Thomas Maher of PlanetF1 reported that Verstappen and McLaren are nearing the closing stages of their contract negotiations, with Verstappen "poised" to make a decision amid a deteriorating relationship with employers Red Bull Racing.
Verstappen's Red Bull contract contains an escape clause, which means that the Dutch driver cannot explore the market as long as he's in the top two positions in the drivers' standings. The clause is expected to activate from the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards.
After his retirement from the Silverstone Grand Prix last weekend, it is mathematically impossible for Verstappen to finish in the top two before the summer break rolls around.
During a meeting at Red Bull's headquarters in Austria in June, Verstappen met with major stakeholders Mark Mateschitz and Chalerm Yoovidhya, who sought reassurances from Verstappen that he'll stay at Red Bull beyond the 2026 season. Mateschitz and Yoovidhya attempted to buy Verstappen out of his clause, which the Dutchman refused, much to Red Bull's anger.
Further matters that strained Verstappen's relationship with the Red Bull management were the personnel changes around him, with many of the familiar faces around him in the team having left, being team prinicipal Christian Horner, team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko, and long-time race engineer Gian Piero Lambiase, who's leaving for McLaren after the 2026 season.
Title rivals
Max Verstappen joined Red Bull Racing in 2016 after a mid-season switch with Russian driver Daniil Kvyat. The Dutchman, then 18 years old, won his first Grand Prix in the Red Bull in Barcelona and won four World Championships between 2021 and 2024.
McLaren broke Verstappen's title streak in 2025, when Lando Norris beat out Verstappen and team-mate Oscar Piastri in the final race in Abu Dhabi.
If Verstappen were to join McLaren, it's likely for him to replace the disgruntled Oscar Piastri, who's reportedly lived in dismay with the team after the 2025 season.
