Max Verstappen in 'closing stages' of huge F1 move after exit clause removal blocked - report

Max Verstappen is reportedly in the final stages of securing a move that could be the biggest swap in Formula One history.

The 2026 Formula One season is well underway and with just two races to come before the summer break, fans are already looking ahead to next year.

As it always the case, the summer break is expected to bring with it plenty of rumours of big moves ahead of several drivers' contracts expiring at the end of the season.

Undoubtedly the biggest story will likely be the future of four-time champion Verstappen, who has been linked both with a move away from Red Bull and even retirement in recent months.

Although Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, a clause in his deal allows him to join another team in 2027 should he be outside the top two positions in the Drivers' Championship at the start of this season's summer break.

After his second consecutive DNF at the British Grand Prix, it is now a mathematical certainty that Verstappen will not be in the top two by August as he currently sits seventh in the standings with just two races remaining.

And now, it appears that it could be McLaren who triggers the exit clause, with PlanetF1 reporting that multiple sources have revealed that Verstappen is in the closing stages of a lengthy negotiation to make the move.

The news comes after reports that Verstappen held talks with Red Bull in June in which the Milton Keynes based team attempted to buy out his escape clause, but the Dutchman refused.

This is said to have created a divide in between Verstappen and senior officials at Red Bull, who feel that he is leaving them guessing on his future plans.

Team officials feel that Red Bull deserves more loyalty from Verstappen, due to the treatment and salary he has enjoyed throughout his decade at the team, while Verstappen is believed to have lost faith in the team as a whole.

The departures of several key officials at Red Bull, most notably Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase who will leave the team to join McLaren after a period of gardening leave, is said to have impacted Verstappen's decision.

If Verstappen were to join McLaren, it is expected that he would do so at the expense of Oscar Piastri after Lando Norris secured his seat having won the 2025 championship.

Commenting on the rumours last weekend, Piastri said: “For me, it doesn’t mean much. Obviously Max is the talent he is, and looking around. I’m very happy with where I am.

“I’ve been told multiple times that the team are happy with me and I trust them. So, for me, it doesn’t really mean much. A contract is in place as well. I’m just trying to build on the success I’ve had.”

But, it is believes that Verstappen’s discussions with McLaren regarding displacing the Australian have advanced significantly, with a deal believed to be for three years said to be “imminent”.

READ MORE: Fresh Red Bull tensions emerge with Max Verstappen ally reportedly 'frozen out'

So much so, that it is believed that Red Bull were ready to make a driver announcement this week, presumably to replace Verstappen.

It is widely believed that if Verstappen does end up signing for McLaren, it would facilitate a straight swap that would see Piastri take the vacant Red Bull seat.

Zak Brown attempts to shut down Verstappen links

Rumours linking Verstappen to McLaren have been circulating for weeks, but when confronted about them during the British Grand Prix, McLaren CEO Brown appeared to shut down the links.

When asked by PlanetF1 what could tempt Verstappen about the McLaren team, Brown said: “I haven’t really thought about that because I’ve got two drivers in the seats.

“So, what I couldn’t offer him was a seat in my race car. But I think McLaren’s an awesome team. So is Red Bull, and so is Alpine, and so is Ferrari. The Formula 1 teams are amazing.

“I think we’ve got a unique environment, but as do all race teams. But we’ve got a great race team that’s had a lot of success, and I think it’s a good place to work, whether you’re a racing driver or a team principal or a mechanic, or whatever you may be at Team McLaren.”

Despite Brown's comments, links between Verstappen and McLaren aren't going away any time soon, and with the summer break rapidly approaching, we may soon know the truth behind the blockbuster move.