McLaren phoned Max Verstappen to ‘explore the market’
McLaren reveal phone call to Max Verstappen

McLaren put in a call to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen in a bold move which would have shak🗹en t♔he F1 drivers’ market.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown phoned Ver🐟stappen “some time ago”, he to𒁃ld .
However, Brown 🃏insisted it was only a single phone call to “explore the market”.
McLaren enquired about Max Verstappen availability
Red 𝓀Bull star Verstappen🌺’s future was in question a year ago amid his team’s internal battle which involved Christian Horner.
Jos Verstappen and Helmut Mꦯarko became embroiled in the problem which threatened Red Bull’s top driver’s stay at the team.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was vocal about signing Verstappen, aꦜt the time.
McLar꧟en and Mercedes look away from Max Verstappen
Bu🔴t the F1 driver market has considerably changed since Verstappen’s future was at-risk.
Ahead of this weekend’s F1 Australian Grand Prix, McL🔜aren tied Oscar Piastr♏i down to a new multi-year contract.
That fresh deal reportedly gives ꦍPiastri parity with teammate Lando Norris’ hefty wages, at🌊 around £20m-per-year according to the Daily Mail.
Mercedes have also committed to🐷 Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement, next to George Ru🎶ssell.
And Wolff moved to shut the door o🧔n Verstappen to Mercedes.
Wolff is committed to building rookie Antonelli’s F1 ܫcareer. Antonelli has been likened൩ to a teenage Verstappen, who Mercedes missed out on signing.
Russell ♛is also set for contrac🐭t talks with Mercedes which would solidify his status.
From 2026, the new F1 engine regulati🔯ons will create a dynamic where any front-running team cꩵould burst out of the gates with an era-defining car.
Tha🌼t means Verstappen - and every to🍒p F1 driver - will be looking around to see which car might give them the greatest chance of victory.
The driver market is l𓂃ikely to take꧟ further twists when 2026 creates a new pecking order.

Jame🐻s was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to footba🔥ll, to F1.