Lando Norris says multiple drivers are trying to secure seats at McLaren amid rumours Max Verstappen could try to join the team as soon as next season.

Multiple reports over the past fortnight indicate that Verstappen’s management has recently sat down for a meeting with McLaren CEO Zak Brown to gauge future availability at the 2024–25 constructors champion.

Neither party has refuted those reports, but Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, declared that there was “nothing to it” and that “there were no negotiations”.

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Brown was similarly dismissive of the seriousness of the talks, backing Norris and Oscar Piastri to continue with the team.

“They have contracts, but besides that, we’re very happy with them and they are very happy here,” he told Sky Sports, though he added: “If for some strange reason someone slipped on a banana peel getting out of the tub, then yes, of course — Max is a four-time world champion.”

Verstappen is under contract until the end of 2028 but is widely reported to have an exit clause in his deal that will allow him to leave Red Bull Racing if he sits outside the top two on the title table in the middle of the season.

He’s currently seventh and 98 points off the lead.

Norris, who beat Verstappen to last year’s championship by two points, said it was positive that McLaren was attractive to the four-time title-winner and claimed the Dutchman wasn’t the only driver making inquiries.

“To be honest, a lot of drivers want to come to McLaren,” he said. “I don’t know why you just highlight Max; there are quite a few others that I know that want to come as well.

“It’s a cool thing. It’s a good thing that a four-time world champion wants to come on board and wants to potentially join the team.

“I don’t know how much of it’s true, but it’s a cool thing.

“If there’s an opportunity for me to drive with other people, it’s something I’ve always looked forward to.”

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talks twist

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA – JUNE 28: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLarenSource: Getty Images

Verstappen refused to be drawn on the rumours.

“I have nothing really to add to that,” he said. “I’m just focused on what I’m doing here with the team.

“We had a positive weekend last week, and we want to try and keep that momentum going.”

Notwithstanding that both McLaren drivers are under contract — Norris until the end of 2027 and Piastri for another year after that — the assumption is that Piastri would make way in the hypothetical example that Verstappen muscles his way in, given Norris’s title-winning status.

The Australian, who leads Norris on this year’s points table, said he has no worries about his position in the team.

“It doesn’t really mean much to me,” he said. “Max obviously doesn’t need to be spoken about much in terms of his talent.

“I’ve got a contract in place. I’ve had multiple reassurances that the team are very happy with me, and I’m very happy with the team, so for me, I’m very happy where I am, happy with the situation I’m in, and I’m just trying to continue the success that we’ve had in the last few years.”

Leclerc and Piastri clash in Austria! | 00:42

Norris likewise said that his position was secure, and he added that he expected to be partnered with Piastri for the foreseeable future.

“It’s not a serious thing,” he said of the Verstappen rumours. “I’m also just excited for my future with McLaren.

“I’m still going to be here for many, many more years, so I’m excited for whoever I get partnered with.

“For the time being, me and Oscar are working very well together, and we’re excited to work together for more years too, so that’s our focus for now.”

The Briton also said he enjoyed a good relationship with Piastri, which believed was crucial to improving the team’s performance.

“It’s just as good as it was last year, which I think is a very strong place,” he said. “It’s how the team wants us to be as teammates.

“I think the perspective of just focus and kind of being in the zone quite as deep as we were last year at this point is just a little bit different — that changes maybe how you see things, but honestly, we are just as good, and that’s how we need to be, especially now with being a little bit behind where we want to be as a team.”

Red Bull Racing and Verstappen’s management have both suggested that improved on-track results would be enough to convince the Dutchman to stay.

Although McLaren leads Red Bull Racing by 44 points on the constructors championship table, the Austrian Grand Prix suggested their fortunes could be switching.

Red Bull Racing has been the quicker of the two cars on average since the Miami Grand Prix, the first weekend at which teams began bringing major upgrade packages, and its development trend has been more steeply positive than McLaren’s.

Verstappen is only three points behind Noris on the title table and four points adrift of Piastri.