Trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 140 points and still without a win for Red Bull this season, Max Verstappen has confirmed he held serious talks with McLaren. For months, the paddock had been rife with reports that the Dutchman was on the verge of leaving the Austrian team for a rival. After earlier interest from Mercedes, negotiations with the British outfit went so far that the two sides were closing in on a deal. "Of course, any kind of chat you take seriously," the 28-year-old champion admitted as he finally broke his silence.
Yet despite McLaren's growing dominance and Red Bull's technical woes, an official announcement ahead of his home Dutch Grand Prix put the rumours to rest. Verstappen has signed a contract with the team that runs until the end of the 2030 season. "This is like a second family to me," insisted the driver, who has managed just four podiums this year. With 10 races left, the Dutch champion simply has to find a way out of the current crisis.
