With the anticipated arrival of renowned designer Adrian Newey in early 2025, rumors suggest that Aston Martin’s owner, Lawrence Stroll, is hoping to entice the best driver in the F1 field. “I have other concerns that require attention,” he says.
Earlier this year, Toto Wolff admitted he would roll out the red carpet for Max Verstappen if he showed interest in moving from Red Bull to Mercedes. Speculation about a transfer in 2026 is already rife. However, there seem to be more contenders in the race, such as Lawrence Stroll, a billionaire, owner of Aston Martin’s F1 Team, and determined to conquer the world at any cost.
Money is no obstacle to realizing his lofty ambitions. Newey is reportedly receiving €30 million per year. There must also be a substantial fund set aside for Verstappen. On the usual media day on the eve of the Azerbaijan GP, the world champion’s international press session was almost entirely focused on this topic.
Verstappen’s Reaction to Newey’s Departure
Verstappen reiterated in Baku that he regrets Newey’s departure from Red Bull. “We understand each other well, but I also understand that sometimes you need a new challenge. I’m happy for him. Lawrence (Stroll) is doing everything to make Aston Martin a success. Then I understand,” said Verstappen, “that you want Adrian on your side.”
Open Invitation from Team Boss Mike Krack
Team boss Mike Krack recently stated that the green door is also open for Verstappen. He felt flattered, but remained non-committal. “That might be something for the future,” he said diplomatically. “I have other concerns that require a lot of attention, we have a lot of work to do.” He was particularly referring to the balance problems that Red Bull’s RB20 has been having for months and which became painfully clear again two weeks ago in Monza.
Verstappen’s Focus on Improving the Car
“The task now is to improve the car, recognize the weaknesses and find solutions. But that’s not going to happen in a few weeks,” Verstappen expects. “I do hope that we can look forward from now on.” However, the three-time world champion does not believe, he said, that Red Bull’s decline has anything to do with Newey’s departure. “It was already going wrong before that, it’s not related. If we understand the problems better and find a better balance, we will be competitive again.”
