Jul.4 (GMM) Zak Brown has confirmed McLaren held talks with Max Verstappen’s camp, while insisting there is still no room for the four-time world champion.
After days of speculation linking Verstappen with McLaren, Brown was asked directly at Silverstone how serious the discussions had become.
“They didn’t go anywhere,” the McLaren CEO replied.
“I’ve got my two drivers, so there’s nothing to report.”
Asked if that meant any potential move was off the table for the foreseeable future, Brown answered: “Correct.”
He also reiterated that McLaren simply has no vacant race seat.
“I haven’t really thought about that because I’ve got two drivers in the seats,” Brown said when asked what McLaren could offer Verstappen.
“What I couldn’t offer him was a seat in my race car. But I think McLaren’s an awesome team.
“We’ve got a great race team that’s had a lot of success, and I think it’s a good place to work, whether you’re a racing driver or a team principal or a mechanic.”
Meanwhile, Brown also explained why McLaren is not yet using Mercedes’ latest engine specification despite customer teams being entitled to receive it.
“You’ve got to cycle through your engines and we’ve got life left on our current engines,” he said.
“We need to wait till we do an engine change. Williams got theirs because Carlos had his issues.
“It’s just a timing sequence.”
Brown admitted McLaren would like the latest specification as soon as possible.
“Any time you have performance that you know is coming but you don’t have it on your car yet, you want to get it as quickly as possible,” he said.
“But I wouldn’t say it’s a frustration. It just is what it is and we just keep our head down and keep pushing hard.
“It’ll be in the back in not too long.”
Asked whether McLaren had specifically requested the upgraded engine for Silverstone, Brown replied: “I don’t believe we did.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES