McLaren CEO Zak Brown has confirmed he engaged in talks with Max Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, over the champion’s contract during the Formula 1 winter break.

The papaya team may have recently extended the contracts of their current drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, but this did not stop Brown from talking to the Verstappen camp between the 2024 and 2025 season.

McLaren lock-in F1 driver lineup on long-term deals

Brown will be pleased to have locked in a contract extension with both of his drivers, who sealed another 1-2 finish for the team at the Miami Grand Prix.

Piastri also completed a hattrick of grand prix wins in Miami, and his run of success has only strengthened his position at the top of the drivers’ standings.