#maxlaren

[lislemons]

me every time i see any max to mclaren or oscar to red bull rumors:

[thissying]

if maxlaren then papaya rules → orange rules

[caprifiles]

i just have to say that maxlaren is such a scam esp w the way they've been trying to shove this idea down my throat in the last couple of days but none of my max predictions were ever correct so what do i know

[the-starless-one]

Maxcedes this Maxlaren that and now Ferrari???? Please. Max is retiring and we better get used to it.

[lislemons]

Maybe I’m being too naive about this, but the thought that Zak would go on a full-blown media tour pre-Silverstone denying the rumors and saying that both drivers are there to stay, just to turn around and do the opposite would be insane. Especially given how imagine conscious mcl is.Like it would be different if we got a couple vague quotes in articles behind a paywall skirting around the rumors. 

THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!! they might be more careful with their wording but they are certainly making it clear that they aren’t looking to replace a driver right now.

i have been trying to engage in this in good faith but if i wanna be real crazy i’d said that i think these rumors are coming from one source for one particular reason... in may, oscar denied that he knew red bull was interested in him replacing max. just a week or two ago zak denied that they wanted anyone other than oscar and lando. and at the same time zak was denying it, the reports said it was MAX’S team that reached out to mclaren.

look, do i think oscar is 100% happy at mclaren? no! last year would’ve made anyone have some type of feeling about their team if they were in his place. do i think max is a desirable driver for mclaren to sign? yeah! but also! i don’t think max WANTS mclaren more than he just wants a seat at a top team.

and, i mean, mclaren is very image focused. would they want a guy that’s made his negative feelings about papaya rules, or papaya in general, known publicly? which he did multiple times. a lot of times, actually, like it’s pretty easy to see that he wouldn’t be open to being as good of a team player as oscar. if mclaren is actually lying through their teeth then i think it’s clear they are more than happy to give up their “papaya family” image for this move. i just don’t know if they are prepared for what that means for them in the long run… or what that might mean for their other driver…

[lislemons]

Two things can be true at once: max’s team are planting stories AND McLaren and brown are lying

I don’t actually think a swap is happening but I will never trust what that Orange team says they always go back on their word when it comes to oscar

And I think it’s fun to remember that the og Oscar to rb rumors that started way back in 24 along with that random Ferrari one were planted by Oscar’s team

well yes! don’t get me wrong, i totally think mclaren and zb are lying on some level.

now, the rumors in 2024 i think are absolutely a part of the reason mark webber is not being seen in a mclaren garage that much this season. this tact is very common for contract negotiations though, so like, i’m not really convinced it’s a major factor for mclaren’s feelings towards oscar right now or vice versa. the real difference here is that those rumors essentially died or were brushed off by everyone involved pretty quickly and max going contract shopping is on year 2 with clear desperation from his team. one of my hot takes is that i believe the oscar to red bull rumors that resurged this year were in fact planted by someone other than red bull or oscar.

the only pice of info in that article that i believe is that oscar’s relationship to the team was pretty heavily damaged by monza ‘25. but like, oscar himself alluded to that not long after it happened so it’s not exactly groundbreaking news.

ultimately, i think this is just priming us for some real bullshit silly season activity!

[lislemons]

If Max Verstappen goes to McLaren what would be his reaction the first time they pull “Papaya Rules” on him?

Straight up ignoring it

Threatening to harm himself AND others

Strangling Lando in the media pen

Actually follows the team orders

Wear Zak Brown’s skin as a trophy afterwards to ward off the team

Committing seppuku on the track

Immediately put the car in the wall

Remaining time: 4 hours 21 minutes

[lislemons]

the brazilian motorsports world is reporting that oscar wants to leave mclaren, thus making it possible for max to take his seat (x). while i love silly season i’m genuinely afraid i can’t suspend my disbelief long enough to even engage in that. missing half-naked max on toto’s yacht type of bullshit rn…