Where is Max Verstappen headed? The Formula 1 World Champion could turn his back on Red Bull, being linked with a move to Mercedes and Aston Martin.
At the latter team, considerations appear to be more advanced, with CEO Lawrence Stroll primarily wanting to play a trump card.
According to several media reports, Aston Martin is aggressively courting the commitment of Red Bull’s technical genius, Adrian Newey. The 65-year-old played a key role in the World Championship titles of Sebastian Vettel (2010 – 2013) and Max Verstappen (2021 – 2023).
Therefore, Aston Martin boss Lawrence Stroll hopes that the chances of Verstappen switching teams would significantly increase if Newey is on board. With the Red Bull chief designer as a trump card, a confidant would already be in place.
It is clear that there is unrest behind the scenes at Red Bull due to the Horner affair. While Newey still has a contract until 2028, the rumor mill is buzzing that he might leave the team. This would mean the loss of an important building block in the Formula 1 empire of the “Bulls.”
Aston Martin from 2026 with Red Bull’s “Championship Engine”
Additionally, a new engine regulation will be introduced in Formula 1 in 2026, with Aston Martin operating as a factory team with Honda engines. This is the engine brand with which Verstappen won his three World Championships.
Meanwhile, at Red Bull, there are growing rumors that the team is not entirely satisfied with the engine developed for 2026 – the Red Bull Powertrain – and that there are still several important steps to take.
New Formula 1 Campus
And for the Canadian billionaire Stroll, money plays, if at all, only a minor role. A new, modern Formula 1 campus is being built in Silverstone, expected to be state-of-the-art. The opening is scheduled for 2026.
“It will be a great place to work,” raved team principal Mike Krack. “This makes us attractive to the best people from all over the sport.”
And currently, the gold standards are Verstappen and Red Bull’s technical genius Newey. Aston Martin certainly has clear visions of how it wants to compete for the World Championship title from 2026.
