Formula 1 News: Zak Brown pursuing Max Verstappen

(GMM) Max Verstappen is dialling back his involvement with Red Bull’s quirky social media presence. Meanwhile, McLaren boss Zak Brown is eyeing Verstappen.

According to the Dutch publication Formule 1, manager Raymond Vermeulen has told team officials that the quadruple world champion is frustrated with the inane nature of Red Bull’s TikTok activities in particular.

“Big brands like Oracle, Tag Heuer and Heineken invest a lot of money in global campaigns around Max,” Vermeulen explained.

“There are buses driving around the center of Melbourne with Max’s image on it – it all looks very slick. Then it doesn’t fit at all when I see a video on TikTok where Max is popping balloons or something.

“You don’t make those kinds of videos with a four-time world champion,” he insisted.

So, from now on, Verstappen’s management is demanding to first approve the 27-year-old’s involvement in social media activities before committing to take part.

The development comes as De Telegraaf newspaper reports that McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently got in touch with Verstappen’s management.

Brown admitted it was a single phone call to “explore the market” likely for after 2028 when Verstappen’s contract runs out with Red Bull….or maybe sooner.

Raymond Vermeulen, Manager of Max Verstappen and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

Verstappen also does not deny the story about not wanting to take part in every Red Bull social media campaign in 2025.

“I prefer serious activities,” he said. “I prefer that they bring out things that are constructive and that people can perhaps learn something from.

“I want less of these nonsense things for TikTok,” he told Dutch journalists. “I’ve done a lot of that kind of thing now.

“Writing off the caravans with Daniel Ricciardo in Spielberg, for example, was a lot of fun,” Verstappen added. “But the world was a bit different back then than it is now. And you do something like that once. Then it’s unique.

“After ten years in Formula 1, there is not so much that is unique to me now. And yes, at some point you have to be a bit more selective.”