Max Verstappen’s team offered a coy response when asked about the Formula 1 champion’s links to Aston Martin.
Verstappen has been indomitable at Red Bull, winning the last four driver’s titles, yet he has been linked with a stunning £1bn move to Aston Martin.
On Thursday (16 January), the Daily Mail reported that Aston Martin are informing sponsors that the Dutch-Belgian will join them.
And GP Blog put that to Verstappen’s team, whose answer was simply, “That’s nice,” neither confirming nor rejecting the report.
Yet Aston Martin “categorically denied” the story while speaking to Planet F1.
If Verstappen were to join Aston Martin, he would be following Adrian Newey – Red Bull’s longtime car designer – in making the move. Newey left Red Bull in 2024 and will join Aston Martin in time for the 2025 season, ahead of new regulations taking effect in 2026.
It is unclear whether Verstappen would join Aston Martin this season or next, but with the first race of 2025 taking place on 16 March – and pre-season testing, practice and qualifying to come before then – 2026 would seem likelier.
Aston Martin’s drivers are currently Fernando Alonso – a two-time F1 champion – and Lance Stroll, who is the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll.
The younger Stroll’s performances have long underwhelmed, yet he has retained his place at Aston Martin.
Verstappen, 27, partnered Sergio Perez at Red Bull from 2021 until the end of the 2024 season, with Liam Lawson replacing “Checo” ahead of the new campaign.
Verstappen reportedly earns £50m per year at Red Bull, whom he joined in 2016 after a spell at their feeder team, Toro Rosso.
