Zak Brown says Max Verstappen may join McLaren if one of their drivers "slipped on a banana peel" getting out of tub

Brown has been adamant that McLaren are happy with their current driver lineup, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the former winning the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' Title with the team. However, there is speculation that Piastri may be looking around for another drive, reportedly displeased with how Papaya rules favored Norris in 2025.

But recent reports have linked Verstappen with a move to the Woking squad, which gained momentum following the announcement that Gianpiero Lambiase, the Dutchman's long-time race engineer, will be leaving Red Bull Racing at the end of his current contract to join the Papaya team.

Red Bull Racing's current form in 2026 had fueled speculation that Verstappen may activate a performance-related clause in his contract with the team that runs till the end of the 2028 F1 season.

Over the weekend of the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, warned that while his driver is loyal to Red Bull Racing, he will not tolerate remaining in a midfield car for long.

Red Bull Racing CEO and Team Principal Laurent Mekies, on the other hand, was more relaxed, insisting Verstappen's future remains with his team, stressing the need to deliver a winning car for the four-time F1 Champion.

Quizzed about the prospects of having Verstappen in a McLaren, Brown told Sky Sports F1 in Austria: "I'd be very surprised if Lando or Oscar ​went elsewhere because they're very happy.

"You ⁠know, of course we've got contracts, but contracts aside, we're very happy with them; they're very happy here.

"If for some strange reason, someone slipped ​on a banana ​peel getting ⁠out of the tub, then yeah, of course, Max is a four-time world ​champion," Brown quipped in conclusion.

Verstappen finished second in the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday after Red Bull Racing upgraded their RB22. Piastri was fourth and Norris was seventh.