Max Verstappen and McLaren have opened preliminary talks with a view to partnering the Dutchman and Lando Norris in a dream team of world champions.

It is understood that in this scenario Norris’s existing partner Oscar Piastri would swap places with the Dutchman if the hush-hush negotiations ended in a successful resolution, possibly as early as next year.

Verstappen has been considering his future for some time, with Red Bull’s form having dropped off since their title-winning exploits between 2021 and 2024.

The four-time world champion has traditionally been in no rush to sever his ties with the Austria-owned organisation that have nurtured his talent, placing loyalty high in his thoughts.

Nor has McLaren chief executive Zak Brown publicly courted Vertstappen, though the American sounded him out a couple of years ago, only to be assured the services of Formula One’s most sought-after driver were unavailable.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but certain release clauses allow him to move earlier should he wish to activate them. He is likely to keep his options open for as long as possible to assess how the top teams develop under the current regulations that are only seven races old.

Max Verstappen could line up alongside Lando Norris (right) at McLaren if talks are successful

On the other side of the equation, Verstappen has toyed with the idea of quitting Formula One, a consideration that gained impetus as the 28-year-old railed against the controversial move to the half-electric engines – an unsatisfactory combination he believes has reduced racing to the status of a ‘Mario Kart’ computer game. He lies seventh in the drivers’ standings, 101 points behind Mercedes’ leader Kimi Antonelli.

However, it is understood McLaren believe they stand a chance of luring their man, whose annual pay at Red Bull is some £80million.

‘It is an idea McLaren are keen on,’ confirmed one source. ‘If it comes off it may be in 2028, but it could even be earlier.’

A pathway to Verstappen has been opened by McLaren’s signing of his key lieutenant, his long-serving race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, known as ‘GP’.

The British-Italian is on a long stretch of gardening leave after his departure from Red Bull in April and will join McLaren – at the latest – when his contract expires in 2028.

Verstappen has always considered ‘GP’ a cornerstone of his Red Bull existence. Another trusted figure in his existence there was Dr Helmut Marko, the soft-drink manufacturer’s motorsport adviser, but the octogenarian left the company last year.

Whatever the result of the Verstappen-McLaren dance, George Russell feels his place at Mercedes is entirely safe.

Although Verstappen has regularly been linked with Russell’s seat, the Englishman issued an adamant assessment ahead of Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix, insisting: ‘I’ll be racing here next year.

‘I don’t want to go into any more detail, but I will be at Mercedes in 2027 and that’s the fact of it.’