McLaren CEO Zak Brown described the possibility of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes as "scary" amid increasing speculation about the Dutchman's future at Red Bull. 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has had a long-term interest in adding Verstappen to the ranks, further expressing that desire at last week's Austrian Grand Prix. 

The reigning Formula One champion has a contract with Red Bull, though it is believed that there are clauses in the deal that would allow him to leave the team. 

Wolff revealed that a decision about Mercedes' line-up for 2026 would be confirmed in the August break, after George Russell confirmed talks had been had with Verstappen.

Red Bull have suffered a decline in performance, having dominated F1 in 2023 and the first half of 2024, winning 21 of the 22 races in the former season. 

But their dominance has plateaued since, though Verstappen was still able to clinch his fourth consecutive drivers' title last season. 

However, Red Bull relinquished the constructors' title to McLaren, their first since 1998, with the British team starting this season strongly once again. 

Verstappen has made his feelings clear on the underperforming RB21, and Brown believes should a move to Mercedes happen, then it would be a huge challenge for McLaren. 

"That's a bit scary," he told ESPN ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix.

"I think Mercedes is clearly on a forward trajectory, Red Bull clearly is not at the at the moment, and Max is an unbelievable talent.

"So Max in a Mercedes - that's some pretty serious competition."

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Verstappen's troubles have not been helped by the displays of McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who lead the way in the drivers' championship. 

Piastri leads Norris by 15 points so far, with Verstappen 61 points adrift of the championship leader. 

No driver in F1 history has recovered from such a deficit to win the title. 

But with 13 races left, Brown is not ruling out Verstappen or fourth-place George Russell, who is a further nine points adrift.

"No, it's way too early," he added. "He's an unbelievable talent, and I don't think George Russell is out of the game. You know we're not even halfway through the season.

"We see how quickly our season turned around last year. There's absolutely no reason why that can't happen with Max or the Mercedes specifically.

"George, because of where he is in the points, and even Ferrari, so I think we've just got to keep doing what we're doing. It's great that we have a nice lead.

"It's great that we extended it this last weekend but we got a lot of racing to go, so I still think you've got four drivers realistically in the fight for the drivers' championship."