Jul.4 (GMM) Zak Brown has confirmed McLaren held talks with Max Verstappen’s camp, whereas insisting there’s nonetheless no room for the four-time world champion.
After days of hypothesis linking Verstappen with McLaren, Brown was requested immediately at Silverstone how severe the discussions had develop into.
“They didn’t go wherever,” the McLaren CEO replied.
“I’ve acquired my two drivers, so there’s nothing to report.”
Requested if that meant any potential transfer was off the desk for the foreseeable future, Brown answered: “Right.”
He additionally reiterated that McLaren merely has no vacant race seat.
“I haven’t actually thought of that as a result of I’ve acquired two drivers within the seats,” Brown mentioned when requested what McLaren might supply Verstappen.
“What I couldn’t supply him was a seat in my race automotive. However I feel McLaren’s an superior crew.
“We’ve acquired a terrific race crew that’s had a whole lot of success, and I feel it’s place to work, whether or not you’re a racing driver or a crew principal or a mechanic.”
In the meantime, Brown additionally defined why McLaren just isn’t but utilizing Mercedes’ newest engine specification regardless of buyer groups being entitled to obtain it.
“You’ve acquired to cycle via your engines and we’ve acquired life left on our present engines,” he mentioned.
“We have to wait until we do an engine change. Williams acquired theirs as a result of Carlos had his points.
“It’s only a timing sequence.”
Brown admitted McLaren would really like the newest specification as quickly as attainable.
“Any time you may have efficiency that you recognize is coming however you don’t have it in your automotive but, you need to get it as shortly as attainable,” he mentioned.
“However I wouldn’t say it’s a frustration. It simply is what it’s and we simply maintain our head down and maintain pushing onerous.
“It’ll be within the again in not too lengthy.”
Requested whether or not McLaren had particularly requested the upgraded engine for Silverstone, Brown replied: “I don’t imagine we did.”
