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Verstappen coup: Is the racing team playing the trump card?

Where is Max Verstappen heading? The Formula 1 world champion could turn his back on Red Bull and is being linked with a move to Mercedes and Aston Martin. At the latter racing team, the considerations are apparently already further advanced, with CEO Lawrence Stroll particularly keen to play a trump card.

According to a number of media reports, Aston Martin is intensely interested in signing Red Bull engineering genius Adrian Newey. The 65-year-old was instrumental in the world championship titles of Sebastian Vettel (2010 - 2013) and Max Verstappen (2021 - 2023). Aston Martin boss Lawrence Stroll therefore hopes that the chances of Verstappen moving on will increase significantly if Newey is on board. After all, with the Red Bull chief designer as a trump card, a confidant would already be on site.

One thing is certain: There is unrest behind the scenes at Red Bull because of the Horner affair. Newey still has a contract until 2028, but rumors are swirling that he could leave the team. This would mean the loss of an important building block in the Formula 1 empire of the "bulls".

Aston Martin with Red Bull's "title engine" from 2026
In addition, new engine regulations will be introduced in Formula 1 in 2026, and Aston Martin will then race as a works team with Honda engines. The same engine with which the Dutchman has won his three world championship titles. At Red Bull, however, rumors are growing louder that the team is not yet completely satisfied with the first engine developed in-house for 2026 - the Red Bull Powertrain - and still has some important steps ahead of it.

New Formula 1 campus 
And for the Canadian billionaire Stroll, money is known to play only a minor role, if at all. A new, modern Formula 1 campus is being built in Silverstone that will play all the parts. The opening is scheduled for 2026. "It will be a great place to work," enthused Team Principal Mike Krack. "It will make us attractive to the best people from all over the sport."

And the measure of all things at the moment is Verstappen and Red Bull's technical genius Newey. In any case, Aston Martin has a clear idea of how it wants to compete for the world championship title from 2026 ...