Brown regards the Stella-Ferrari speculation as 'nonsense.'

      Zak Brown has firmly dismissed rumors regarding Andrea Stella potentially leaving McLaren for Ferrari with the arrival of Gianpiero Lambiase. Speculation has suggested that Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer, could take over Stella’s position as team boss, leading to discussions about Stella returning to Ferrari. However, Brown was clear in his rejection of these claims.

      "Can I confirm that this is nonsense? Yes, I can confirm that this is absolutely nonsense," he stated. "There are a few teams that generate these kinds of rumors, but that won’t be effective for us." He emphasized that Stella is integral to McLaren’s future. "Andrea is deeply committed to McLaren, and we are equally committed to him. We couldn't be happier with this situation," Brown said. "You will see him in McLaren gear for a while."

      Brown also dismissed any implication of tension between Stella and incoming Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. "One hundred percent," he responded when asked if they would collaborate. "Andrea is actually the person who brought GP onboard." While Lambiase is officially scheduled to join by 2028, Brown acknowledged that this timeline may be subject to change. "There’s always a possibility," he mentioned. "But he has a contract, and we will honor that."

      Meanwhile, former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde opined that this move could signal Max Verstappen's potential shift to McLaren alongside Lambiase. "Max moving to McLaren could very well be an option," he noted in Formule 1 Magazine. "McLaren’s advantage includes more Red Bull veterans with whom he has shared success. It appears to be a strategic aim by McLaren to recruit the top talents."

      However, Brown downplayed such possibilities, highlighting McLaren’s current driver lineup of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. "We have long-term agreements with them, and I believe it's the best driver pairing both on and off the track. Therefore, we have no plans to replace either of our two superstars."