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Advice to Verstappen: 'Wait a while before possibly leaving Red Bull'
- Ludo van Denderen
Aston Martin is reportedly keen to lure Max Verstappen away from Red Bull Racing. One billion pounds is even said to have been set aside to entice the Dutchman to make the switch. To do or not to do, that is the big question in the near future.
Guenther Steiner previously indicated that for such a sum, Verstappen should absolutely make the switch to Aston Martin, even if he comes last in every race. But the former Haas F1 team boss also realises that for the Dutchman it is not about money - he instead wants to win and become a champion.
Is Aston Martin the right team for that? Steiner therefore offers some advice to Verstappen during an exclusive interview with GPblog - without forsaking a moment's thought on the money: "Just wait [out] 26! I don't know Max's contract, what is in there, how he can get out. But I assume that he's got the performance clause for the team there. If the team is not good, he can leave after 26 because that's the key."
Golden times with Red Bull?
If Red Bull Racing does hit the nail on the head in 2026 with the new technical regulations, it will be golden times for Verstappen, Steiner believes. "If the car is good in 26, it would be good for another three or four years. If you start on a new regulation, the new concept, the car, it takes you quite a while to get out of it."
Should Red Bull not be competitive enough for Verstappen, there is another advantage for Verstappen after 2026. At Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso 's contract will have expired by then, while at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton will also be at the end of his commitment, and according to Steiner: "That solves the problem."