Max Verstappen has reportedly entered early discussions with McLaren regarding a potential departure from Red Bull.The talks are said to focus on an extraordinary swap arrangement that would see Oscar Piastri head in the opposite direction to the Milton Keynes outfit.Such a deal would unite Verstappen with Lando Norris, creating a formidable partnership of world champions at the Woking-based team.However, McLaren has insisted there are no negotiations underway, categorically denying that a swap is being discussed.Max Verstappen has been tipped to join McLaren in a shock swap deal that would see Oscar Piastri go the other way | REUTERSThe British constructor has consistently maintained satisfaction with its current driver pairing, though paddock speculation has persisted about Piastri potentially seeking a team where he could be the clear lead driver.Verstappen’s potential interest in a move comes amid a difficult 2026 campaign for Red Bull.The Dutchman currently occupies seventh place in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by 101 points as the Austrian Grand Prix approaches.Red Bull’s competitive edge has diminished considerably since their dominant run of four consecutive titles between 2021 and 2024.Verstappen remains under contract with the Austrian-owned team until the end of 2028, though his deal is understood to contain exit provisions that could permit an earlier departure.Max Verstappen remains under contract with the Austrian-owned team until the end of 2028 | REUTERS”It’s an idea McLaren is keen to pursue,” a source told the Daily Mail. “If it happens, it could be in 2028, but it might even be earlier.”The 28-year-old’s reported salary at Red Bull stands at approximately £80 million annually.McLaren’s recruitment of Gianpiero Lambiase adds another dimension to the speculation surrounding Verstappen’s future.The British-Italian engineer departed Red Bull in April and is currently serving an extended period of gardening leave before joining the papaya team.Lambiase served as Verstappen’s race engineer throughout his championship-winning years, with their radio exchanges becoming one of the sport’s most recognisable partnerships.His contract is set to expire in 2028, at which point he will officially begin work at Woking.The potential for the pair to reunite at McLaren has inevitably fuelled talk of a possible approach for the four-time champion.Dr Helmut Marko’s departure from Red Bull last year has also removed another trusted figure from Verstappen’s support network within the organisation.Lando Norris beat Max Verstappen to the world title last season | REUTERSVerstappen’s long-term commitment to Formula 1 remains uncertain regardless of which team he drives for.The Dutchman, who turns 29 in September, has indicated his racing career will be shorter than veterans like Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso, both of whom have competed into their forties.He has also expressed frustration with the sport’s current direction, particularly criticising the shift to half-electric power units as reducing the driving experience to something resembling a “Mario Kart” computer game.Any movement involving Verstappen would have ripple effects across the grid, though one potential destination appears closed.George Russell confirmed ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix that he will remain at Mercedes next season.”I’ll be racing here next year,” Russell told the press. “I will be at Mercedes in 2027 and that’s the fact of it.”