McLaren take 'uncomfortable' Max Verstappen to Mercedes stance

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has conceded that Max Verstappen teaming up with Mercedes is a prospect that is "pretty comfortable" to comprehend.

The American has been outspoken about Max Verstappen's situation at Red Bull, but would rather he stay put with the Milton Keynes-based squad.

Highlighting how the Dutchman is "carrying" the six-time constructors' champions, Brown pointed out that without the four-time F1 drivers' champion, the team would be behind sister outfit Racing Bulls in the standings.

Brown's comments come amid increasing speculation that Verstappen could look for an exit from the Christian Horner-led operation, seeking a fresh start at Mercedes.

It remains unclear whether the talks his camp is engaged in with Mercedes, and its team principal Toto Wolff, hinge on 2026 or 2027, but with an F1 regulations overhaul coming over the winter, the Brackley squad is poised to start the new era in competitive fashion, something that concerns Brown.

"I think Mercedes is a team on the rise," the 53-year-old told The Sports Agents podcast.

"Red Bull at the moment has challenges; it doesn't mean that they can't fix those challenges."

McLaren is a Mercedes power unit customer. With whispers that the German marque has aced those new-for-2026 rules, as it did at the turn of the current turbo-hybrid era in 2014, Brown understandably does not wish to see the Silver Arrows graced with an advantage.

The Woking-based team won its first constructors' title since 1998 last term and looks set to go back-to-back for the first time since the early 1990s this campaign. Therefore, a lot is at stake for the reigning champions.

"But Max in a Mercedes is pretty uncomfortable to think about because he's awesome," Brown added before emphasising the huge loss Verstappen would be for Red Bull.

"So, I think I'd rather he stay where he is," he said. "I think it would be a disaster for Red Bull if they lost Max."