Max Verstappen-McLaren talks: the first move was Max's

One of the most talked-about topics of the Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen's future, has taken a new turn. According to what has emerged, Max Verstappen's camp has held a meeting with McLaren. The striking point is that the party that initiated the talks was not McLaren but Max Verstappen's representatives directly.

This development adds another major team to the list of possible destinations should the Dutchman leave Red Bull. The fact that McLaren has long not been seen as a realistic option for a four-time world champion adds to the significance of the talks.

Although Max Verstappen's contract with Red Bull runs until the end of 2028, performance-related clauses can open the door to an early exit under certain conditions. According to what has been reported, there is a clause allowing him to leave at the end of this season if he is outside the top two in the championship by the summer break. Currently seventh in the standings, the chance of that clause being triggered looks strong for Max Verstappen.

One of the factors fueling the McLaren possibility is that his long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is set to move to McLaren in the future. The strong working relationship the pair have built over the years makes a potential reunion appealing. Meanwhile, Mercedes, once seen as the most likely destination, is said to be increasingly committed to its current driver line-up, while Aston Martin has struggled under the new regulations. Although McLaren have Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri under contract, the team's management is said not to have completely closed the door on Max Verstappen. With no formal negotiation stage reported yet, how the process takes shape over the coming races will be followed closely.

Source: Sky Sports
Image: Motorsport