Lawrence Stroll appears to be ready to acquire the services of Max Verstappen amidst rumors of Adrian Newey’s signed agreement with Silverstone. Verstappen, who shocked the Formula 1 world by leaving Red Bull, has yet to make any announcements regarding his future in the sport. Speculation suggests that the aerodynamic genius may take a break from racing altogether, but there are multiple reports claiming that the 65-year-old could join either Aston Martin or Ferrari in the upcoming season.
One particular claim gaining traction is that Aston Martin has matched Ferrari’s offer and offered Adrian Newey a staggering $100 million. Furthermore, there is also significant interest in Max Verstappen from Aston Martin. Negotiations are reportedly already underway to secure the reigning world champion for the 2026 season.
It was previously believed that Ferrari had already secured a deal with Adrian Newey worth over $105 million for four years. However, no further details have emerged as Newey has chosen to remain silent on the matter. Aston Martin’s interest in the technical wizard is not a recent development, as Senior Stroll had expressed a desire to acquire the Englishman after securing a power units deal with Honda for 2026.
According to Autosprint, it is reported that Newey will join Aston Martin and the official announcement will be made at the beginning of September. The contract is said to be worth $100 million for four years. Lawrence Stroll, however, doesn’t intend to stop at Newey and has set his sights on other targets as well.
Max Verstappen’s exceptional driving skills could potentially elevate Aston Martin’s performance in the 2026 season. The combination of Verstappen and Newey, supported by a Honda power unit, adds further intrigue to the team. Even the team’s principal hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Newey joining the Silverstone-based constructor.
According to the same source, Newey’s contract with Aston Martin, spanning four years, is expected to be revealed soon. The final details of the contract could be made public as early as September of this year. The next few months will be crucial in determining the future course of action for both Verstappen and Newey.
Currently, Newey is enjoying a well-deserved break from the demanding schedule of a Formula 1 engineer. The 65-year-old has previously stated that his presence at Red Bull was primarily for PR purposes. Considering Red Bull’s current struggles, it is understandable that Verstappen would explore other options for the upcoming seasons.
Photo from Lawrence Stroll (X)
