Verstappen had 'serious' talks with McLaren, Merc

Max Verstappen has confirmed he held serious talks with both McLaren and Mercedes before signing a new contract extension with Red Bull, announced ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. The new deal runs through to the end of 2030, replacing his previous contract that was set to expire in 2028, with escape clauses in the old deal having fueled speculation about a potential move. Verstappen described the discussions with rival teams as 'very respectful chats' in a BBC Sport interview.