Brown: If I had three cars, I would invite Max right away.

      It is believed that the composition of the McLaren team is almost ideal: the British team features two fast drivers, both young, both already with experience in winning, and they get along well and complement each other.

      While Oscar Piastri may not stand out in qualifying at every race, although he has six poles to his name, he generally races very confidently.

      Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, does not lag behind his teammate in racing skill but handles qualifying slightly better, although this year they have an equal score in Saturday duels. In any case, the level of McLaren drivers is eloquently evidenced by the fact that the Woking team has won the Constructors' Cup for two consecutive years.

      However, recently there have been rumors that McLaren is showing interest in Max Verstappen, especially since the four-time world champion has not yet given a definitive answer about continuing to race for Red Bull Racing in the coming years.

      When Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, participated in the Up to Speed podcast, he was asked a direct question on this topic.

      "I have two great drivers on my team, but if I had a third car: I would instantly sign a contract with Max," he replied. "But I don't have a third car, so I'm more than satisfied with the collaboration with Lando and Oscar.

      Last year they won 14 races, both remained title contenders until the last race of the season, and both had chances. They get along great with each other, set an excellent tone for all the work in the team's garage, so I have no intention of changing the lineup. As I said last weekend, unless someone slips on a banana peel.

      Max is an incredibly talented driver, but I believe Lando and Oscar have shown more than once that they are capable of beating him."

      On one hand, everything Zak Brown says is fully true; on the other hand, in 2028, engineer Gianpiero Lambiasi will move from Red Bull to McLaren, who is rightly considered a co-author of Verstappen's victories, and will join McLaren's management. Therefore, Brown's words pertain only to the current period, and how events will unfold over the next two years will be shown by the future.