Zak Brown opens door to future collaboration with Verstappen

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McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown has revealed that he would embrace the opportunity to work with Max Verstappen at some point in the future – through perhaps not in Formula 1.

With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri separating themselves from the pack, winning 12 of the 16 Grands Prix held to date in 2025, Red Bull’s four-time world champion finds himself a distant third in the standings, 94 points off the lead.

Yet Brown’s admiration for Verstappen’s talent remains undimmed.

The American enjoys a good relationship with the Dutchman’s family, forged during his early days as a racer when he lived in the Netherlands and raced against Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, in the Benelux Formula Opel Lotus championship.

A Lasting Impression

"Jos won pretty much everything… Jos is truly a driver who was far more talent than his final results might suggest," Brown explained in an interview with De Telegraaf. "He never really got a fair shake in Formula 1.

"Jos, of course, ended up right next to Michael Schumacher at Benetton, and that might not have been ideal for him. I enjoyed my time in the Netherlands, and it was always my dream to one day race for McLaren."

That history has clearly left a mark on Brown, who has often been content with his current F1 line-up of Piastri and Norris. But the conversation inevitably turned to the possibility of working with Max Verstappen himself.

Endurance Ambitions on the Horizon

Verstappen’s ambitions of one day conquering the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a grueling test of skill and stamina, align perfectly with McLaren’s plans to enter the World Endurance Championship in 2027.

The idea therefore of a McLaren-Verstappen alliance in the future is a tantalizing tease.

©X/UnitedAutosports

"Well, ideally, I'd like to have Max as my team-mate in endurance racing,” Brown added. “Because he recently showed at the Nordschleife under a pseudonym just how fast he is there too.

"Max is a fantastic driver, a four-time champion for a reason. It's a pleasure for me to work with all the drivers in the McLaren programme anyway. And with Max? Who knows, someday..."

For now, McLaren’s F1 dominance reigns supreme, but the Verstappen dream is one to watch.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.