Jos Verstappen has pointed the finger at McLaren CEO Zak Brown, accusing him of attempting to "stir sh*t".
In a fresh interview with London's Telegraph newspaper, Brown suggested that four-time world champion Max Verstappen is likely to depart Red Bull at year's end.
"Most likely to Merc," the American said, nodding to Mercedes.
"There's been talk of Aston Martin, too, with Adrian Newey joining. If I was betting, I'd bet on Merc.
"In the last 10 years, they've won the championship seven or eight times. They have stability. We know Toto likes him. And I think we all feel HPP is best-equipped on the power unit side heading into the new engine regulations next year," Brown elaborated.
Reacting to an Instagram post summing up Brown's remarks, Jos Verstappen shot back: "He only is trying to stir sh*t".
Brown recently disclosed he'd contacted Verstappen's management to "explore the market", later clarifying he chats with most drivers too.
Tension between Brown and Red Bull is palpable, with team principal Christian Horner branding the McLaren boss a "pr*ck" in the latest Drive To Survive series.
Brown told the Telegraph the bad blood is "genuine".
"There's no love lost there. I don't like how he rolls and no doubt he feels the same about me," he conceded.
"But I think it's good for the sport. You need different characters. You need these rivalries. Some are friendly, sporting rivalries. Some are a bit more vicious. It's always been like that."
