Zak Brown has revealed how he initially suspected that Max Verstappen was set to leave Red Bull and join Mercedes for 2026.
Verstappen's future at Red Bull beyond 2025 was a topic of fierce debate over the summer, with a break clause in his contract allowing him to depart the team if he was not placed within the top three in the drivers' championship by the summer break.
Ultimately, he was third as the clause was not triggered, meaning a potential move to Mercedes did not materialise, with Verstappen now set to stay for 2026, with his contract set to expire in 2028.
Detailing the threat Verstappen now poses to his drivers - Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris - in the championship, Brown recalled how he believed Verstappen was about to leave.
"I thought for a long time that Max would go to Mercedes after this season, but that is so not going to happen," Brown told de Telegraaf.
"In fact, lately it has not been about Verstappen's future at all. That also says something about his and Red Bull's performance and how good he is.
"Max seems to be better than ever at the moment. So, of course, we take him extremely seriously in the title race. It would be very stupid not to.
"The arrival of the new team boss, Laurent Mekies, has stirred up a lot, at least, so it seems when I look at it from a distance.
"Red Bull seemed to fall apart completely, but there seems to be peace again now. That's not good news for us."
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