The chance that Max Verstappen will continue his future at McLaren after this season is considered small by former F1 driver Marc Surer. Although the name of the four-time world champion has been explicitly linked to McLaren in recent weeks, Surer places a clear caveat on that. “McLaren has done impressive work, but with the new regulations, a factory team is a much better choice,” says the Swiss.
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With that, Surer points more towards Mercedes and even Ferrari than to the Woking team if Verstappen were to actually leave Red Bull. Rumors of a possible McLaren switch recently received an extra boost due to the announced departure of Gianpiero Lambiase. Verstappen’s permanent race engineer will move to rival McLaren after 2027, where he will take on the role of Chief Racing Officer under team principal Andrea Stella.
Customer Engine
Surer acknowledges that McLaren has developed sportingly into one of the strongest teams in the field. Surer: “What they have shown in the past two years is truly impressive. They have done many things well, despite running with a customer engine.”
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With a view to the drastic regulatory changes from 2026, Surer attaches great importance to full technical integration. The new rules place more emphasis on the collaboration between chassis, internal combustion engine, and electrical systems. In that respect, factory teams have a structural advantage over customer teams like McLaren, he argues. Mercedes has its own power unit program and full control over the technical development direction. “Especially now, with a new era of regulations, that is of great importance,” says Surer.
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