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Why Aston Martin can't wait long to sign Max Verstappen in '26
- Ludo van Denderen
Aston Martin’s interest in Max Verstappen is no secret. The Daily Mail revealed last week that potential sponsors were informed of Verstappen’s move to the team. No timeline was specified, but speculation points to 2026 as a likely entry year. Aston Martin, however, already has two drivers committed for that season, making the situation more complex.
Is Stroll really leaving Aston Martin?
Although the Daily Mail reported that team owner Lawrence Stroll would consider sidelining his son Lance if Max Verstappen joined Aston Martin, this seems unlikely. After all, the Canadian billionaire bought the F1 team to guarantee a seat for his son. It would be surprising for Stroll senior to push his son aside, especially with a top designer like Adrian Newey and a partnership with Honda, which positions the team like a factory outfit. That kind of decision would be a harsh move.
However, you couldn't just send away Fernando Alonso; the two-time world champion is still proving to be an asset to F1 every week. So if Verstappen were to come over from Red Bull, it would be better for Aston Martin if that happens before the 2027 season. By then, Newey will also be settled in the team, and another year will have passed for Aston Martin to grow as a top contender.
What does Verstappen want in the coming years?
Whether Max Verstappen ever leaves Red Bull Racing at all is entirely in the hands of the Dutchman. If at any point he feels like he cannot continue to succeed with the Milton Keynes-based outfit, he will - ambitious as he is - probably look elsewhere. It is no secret that Mercedes would still like to have the Dutchman there for 2026, possibly to replace George Russell, whose contract expires after this year. Mercedes could outpace Aston Martin during 2025 and snatch Verstappen from under their noses. Of course, Verstappen must decide to leave Red Bull first.
If Verstappen stays with Red Bull in 2026, that year will be Aston Martin's best chance to contract him. Waiting long is not an option either, as the Silverstone-based team does not want to risk gambling with Verstappen for too long, with the chance of him still not coming. In that case, it is also possible that Aston Martin may not manage to attract a top driver at all for 2027, as the competition will not be sitting still.
McLaren will likely do everything possible to retain Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari may need to find a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, with several teams vying for top drivers. If Verstappen isn’t interested in joining Aston Martin in 2027, the British team will want to know early to explore other options.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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