Not content with bringing in legendary designer Adrian Newey, Lawrence Stroll has reportedly set his sights on bringing in Max Verstappen .
While Stroll continues to invest heavily in Aston Martin to sit at the top of the Formula 1 grid, the Silverstone team has done a huge job by completing the signing of design guru Adrian Newey, who has signed a long-term deal as Aston Martin’s technical director.
Max Verstappen the next target on Aston Martin’s list?
Newey will join the Silverstone team in March 2025, but Aston Martin appear to be targeting another valued Red Bull lynchpin in the form of their three-time champion and current championship driver Max Verstappen.
Respected Italian publication Autosprint – which correctly confirmed Newey to Aston Martin – now reports that Stroll ‘intends’ to bring in Verstappen, for the 2026 season. Negotiations to make that happen are reportedly already underway.
At that stage, new regulations will come into force, creating the appeal of the Aston Martin car that Newey will design. The car will be powered by a Honda engine, the Japanese manufacturer that supplied Red Bull during the Dutchman’s title-winning streak, and is in a position to claim a fourth in a row.
With Fernando Alonso now set to race in a new regulatory era with Aston Martin, Autosprint reports that his team-mate Lance Stroll, son of team owner Lawrence, could be diverted to Aston Martin’s WEC program to make way for Verstappen.
Newey’s impending exit from Red Bull was announced in the build-up to the Miami Grand Prix, as he immediately quit the team. What followed was the demise of Red Bull’s dominance, and Verstappen was asked if he thought Newey’s departure was the cause.
“Normally, no,” replied Verstappen, when asked if Newey’s departure from Red Bull had anything to do with the poor edition.
“It’s just that since it was announced that he was leaving, it’s been more difficult.”
“But it shouldn’t matter if someone leaves and on the spot the performance immediately drops, because the car has always been the same.”
“Well, usually not.”
However, Verstappen maintains a good relationship with Newey, something Aston Martin can use to their advantage as they have already made their move.
“Whenever I see him, we have a good relationship,” assures the Dutchman, “so it’s never been a problem.”
Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, although the team’s sports adviser Helmut Marko admitted that there are performance clauses in that contract.
