McLaren boss Zak Brown says he would prefer if M🥂aꦑx Verstappen stayed at Red Bull on the onset of new regulations in Formula 1 next year than jump ship to Mercedes.

Verstappen is understood to have an exit clause in his contract with Red Bull that would allow him to leave the team before the 🌜deal ex🤡pires at the end of the 2028 season.

Red Bull’s declining form in F1, as well as the loss of key staff members including Adrian Newey, have been identified as key reasons that could tempt him to leave the team wi♌th which he has won four championships on the trot.

But McLaren chief Brown has a vested interest in 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Verstappen continuing at Red Bull, as he fears the Dutchman could form a potent combination with a resurgent Mercedes team in 2026.

"If you ask me now and if I look at the c🎐urrent situation, I would rather see Max driving at Red Bull than at Mercedes," Brown told .

F1 is set for one of its biggest rules shake-ups n☂ext year, with both the chassis and the engine regulations set to be overhauled.

The new rules necessitate a 50-50 s⛎plit between the power generated from the internal combustion engine and the hybrid motor - and getting this form♑ula right could give a manufacturer a lasting advantage in the new era.

Mercedes is widely believed to be in the best position with the development of its 2026 F1 powe🎃r unit, which M𒐪cLaren will also receive as its customer team.

Red Bull, on🃏 the other hand, faces a major challenge in developing an in-house for the first time - although it has roped in Ford’s expertise for designing and building the MGU.

As such, Brown feels McLaren would have a stronger chance of continuing its winning streak in F1 if 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Verstappen stays put at Red Bull next year.

"What I can say is that I have an incredible amount of confide𓆉nce in Mercedes,” he said. “I look at their track r♛ecord as an engine supplier and their body language."

All manufacturers ✨recently convened in Bahrain to discuss the 2026 regulations, amid widespread fears about the impact of the introduction of new power units oꦕn the competitiveness of the field.

Mercedes has been the most hesitant towards making any late changes to the rules, suggesting that it is confident in💟 its ability to build a competitive engine.

“Thﷺere are a lot of parties who wan✃t the engine regulations to be changed recently,” said Brown. “If you think you are competitive, you don’t want to change anything.”

“At ♉Mercedes, I see that they seem very comfortable. Just like we are now about the upcoming rule changes in Barcelona [regarding flexi wings]. But that doesn’t mean we are sitting back.”