Brown disregards Stella-Ferrari speculations as 'absurd'.

      Zak Brown has categorically dismissed speculation about Andrea Stella potentially leaving McLaren for Ferrari with the upcoming arrival of Gianpiero Lambiase.

      There have been rumors that Lambiase, who has been Max Verstappen’s race engineer for a long time, might take over Stella's role as team principal, sparking discussions about Stella's possible return to Ferrari. However, Brown was quite clear about his stance.

      “Can I confirm that this is nonsense? Yes, I can confirm that this is absolutely nonsense,” he stated. “Some teams tend to spread these kinds of rumors, but that won't be effective with us.” He emphasized that Stella is vital to McLaren’s future.

      “Andrea is very dedicated to McLaren, and we are equally dedicated to him. We couldn’t be happier with this arrangement,” Brown mentioned. “You will see him in McLaren’s gear for quite some time.”

      Brown also rejected any notion of a rift between Stella and the incoming Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. “One hundred percent,” he replied when asked about their collaboration. “In fact, Andrea is the one who brought GP on board.”

      Although Lambiase is officially set to join by 2028, Brown acknowledged that the timing might change. “There’s always a chance,” he said. “But he has a contract, and we will honor that.”

      Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde suggested that this move could open the door for Max Verstappen to join Lambiase at McLaren. “Max moving to McLaren could very well be a possibility,” he wrote in Formule 1 Magazine. “McLaren benefits from having several Red Bull veterans with whom he has found success. It seems like a strategic move on McLaren’s part to attract top talent.”

      However, Brown downplayed any such possibility, emphasizing McLaren's current driver pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. “We have long-term contracts with them, and I believe it’s the best driver duo both on and off the track. So, we have no plans to replace either of our two stars.”