Aston Martin is on the verge of acquiring Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey and may attempt to sign Max Verstappen, according to a report. Newey’s future has been the subject of much speculation since it was announced that he would be leaving Red Bull next year. Despite his departure from the reigning champions, Newey has expressed his intention to remain in the series. Ferrari has previously tried and failed to secure Newey’s services, but Aston Martin has now reportedly secured a deal with him. The announcement of Newey’s move is expected next month. Aston Martin has been eager to strengthen its team and become a title contender, with owner Lawrence Stroll leading a recruitment drive.
The team has already made high-profile hires, including former Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell and Enrico Cardile from Ferrari. Aston Martin has also invested in expanding its headquarters, including the addition of a new simulator. While Aston Martin has not confirmed Newey’s signing, it is open to further additions to its team. The report also suggests that Newey’s arrival could help Aston Martin in its pursuit of signing Verstappen in 2026. Verstappen is currently under contract with Red Bull until 2028 and has expressed his commitment to the team. However, there have been tensions between Verstappen’s father and Red Bull boss Christian Horner, which could potentially impact Verstappen’s future with the team. Newey’s desire to leave Red Bull, along with the impending departure of Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, has added to the uncertainty surrounding the team. Red Bull’s performance on the track has also declined recently, with Verstappen failing to win in the past four races despite his significant lead in the championship.
Verstappen has become increasingly frustrated with Red Bull falling behind both McLaren and a resurgent Mercedes, expressing his dissatisfaction in Hungary by stating that “certain individuals need to wake up a bit”.Mercedes has been positioning themselves to be in the best position to sign Verstappen, with Team Principal Toto Wolff repeatedly expressing his desire to bring the F1 champion on board.
Autosprint has reported that Aston Martin is also considering making a bold move to attract Verstappen as their lead driver once the revised regulations are put into effect.While both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have contracts that extend until 2026, it is not uncommon for exit clauses to be included in contracts, and the team has utilized them in the past.
In 2020, Sergio Perez’s long-term deal with the team, then known as Racing Point, was terminated to make way for the signing of Sebastian Vettel for the Aston Martin project.According to Autosprint, negotiations have begun with Verstappen’s representatives for a potential agreement that would see the three-time F1 champion reunite with Honda.
Honda has provided the engines that have propelled Verstappen to his championships, and the Japanese brand will enter into a partnership with Aston Martin in 2026.
Photo from Aston Martin F1 Instagram
