Just a few weeks ago, an unexpected piece of news rocked Formula 1. McLaren hired Gianpiero Lambiase, the technical chief responsible for Max Verstappen’s car at Red Bull. Some saw more than just the addition of an employee. It now appears confirmed: McLaren is targeting Max Verstappen.
That’s what McLaren CEO Zak Brown hinted at. The Californian has made it clear that if the opportunity arose he would go after Max Verstappen. For that to happen McLaren would need a free seat, but his words come as rumors intensify about a possible departure of Oscar Piastri.
If Piastri Leaves McLaren, Brown Would Go After Verstappen
If signing Lambiase has been a plan to lure Verstappen to McLaren, it’s something no one in Formula 1 has confirmed yet, but there are hints. A few weeks ago McLaren announced it would bring Verstappen’s trusted engineer into the team, without yet defining his role. McLaren only denied that he would become team principal.
“He’s an incredible driver, so if there were a free seat…”. That’s Brown’s reply when asked about the potential signing of Verstappen. Right now McLaren has contracts with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, but increasing rumors suggest the Australian might not be comfortable at the papaya squad.
Remember that Piastri fought for the world championship last year, but in the end his teammate Norris took the title. Although discreetly, there were complaints from the Australian about how he was treated by McLaren, and a certain murmur of a plot to favor Norris’s title bid. Piastri could be looking for a way out.
De hecho, en las últimas semanas se ha relacionado a Piastri con Aston Martin, con Ferrari e incluso con un posible intercambio directo con Verstappen en Red Bull, operación que estaría urgiendo en las sombras su representante, Mark Webber. De momento, Brown prefiere mantener la prudencia sobre una operación que sería todo un terremoto en la Fórmula 1.
“No podría estar más contento con lo que tenemos, por lo que no tengo ninguna intención de cambiarlo. Lando y Oscar no solo son dos tipos increíbles dentro y fuera de la pista, sino también como compañeros de equipo, lo cual creo que es lo que ha hecho que McLaren tenga éxito: la química que tenemos en el garaje, la fábrica, en todo el equipo”, dice Brown.
McLaren no dará el primer paso, pero si Piastri decide cambiar de aires, posiblemente no reciba muchas trabas viendo el sustituto que tienen preparado.
Imágenes | Red Bull, McLaren
