Could the allure of Honda and Adrian Newey persuade Max Verstappen to jump ship from Red Bull to Aston Martin? Aston Martin is reportedly “sparing no expense” in its effort to edge out Mercedes in the race to sign Max Verstappen for the F1 2026 season. This ambitious claim comes from former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos, who believes Aston Martin will “do everything” to secure Verstappen in their quest to become the “best of the best” in Formula 1.
Although Verstappen holds a contract with Red Bull until 2028, his future with the team has become uncertain due to tensions between his father, Jos Verstappen, and team principal Christian Horner, as well as the team’s recent performance issues on the track. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, has openly expressed his desire to sign Verstappen to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season.
Reports from Italy last week suggested that Mercedes is likely to promote teenage sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli as George Russell’s teammate for next season, with an announcement expected at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Despite this, Mercedes is expected to make another attempt to sign Verstappen next year ahead of F1’s significant regulatory changes in 2026, for which the preparations are believed to be well underway. Notably, Mercedes previously nailed the transition to V6-hybrid engines in 2014, which paved the way for their record-breaking run of eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ titles.
However, Aston Martin could emerge as a formidable contender for Verstappen’s signature. Team owner Lawrence Stroll is adamant about positioning the Silverstone-based team as a leading force in F1. Having formed a works partnership with Honda for F1 2026, Aston Martin has also made several high-profile appointments, including former Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell and ex-Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile. Moreover, multiple reports suggest that Adrian Newey, the most decorated designer in F1 history, has finalized a deal with Aston Martin, further intensifying their appeal to Verstappen.
Doornbos, who raced for Red Bull in 2005 and 2006, asserted that Aston Martin has already “finalized” a deal with Newey, who is set to earn $100 million over three years. The team is now expected to intensify efforts to sign Verstappen, having already “made advances” towards the Dutchman. Despite this, Doornbos predicts Verstappen will ultimately choose Mercedes, citing his strong relationship with the Brackley-based team.
In a LinkedIn post, Doornbos emphasized Verstappen’s strong ties with Mercedes. “Mercedes has an open seat for 2025, and it’s likely that during the Monza weekend they’ll announce that Kimi Antonelli will get the chance to debut in Formula 1 alongside George Russell. I still believe Max will join Mercedes in 2026, although Aston Martin will do everything to sway him, sparing no expense,” he wrote. Under Lawrence Stroll’s leadership, Aston Martin has been pushing aggressively to become title contenders within five years, now entering their third year they must make significant strides in the next two.
German publication F1 Insider reported that Aston Martin does not feature on Verstappen’s “wishlist,” maintaining that Verstappen has a “confidential, open, and regular dialogue” with Wolff and Mercedes chief executive Ola Kallenius. During a visit to the Spanish Grand Prix in June, Kallenius hinted that the 2026 rule changes would present “an opportunity” to lure Verstappen, stating, “The best driver wants to have the best car. And that’s our job, to bring the best package together. The cards will be reshuffled in 2026. New order with new rules. That’s also an opportunity. Who knows? But I think Max would look good in silver, wouldn’t he?”
Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan, appearing on the Formula For Success podcast, claimed that Wolff, Kallenius, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe of INEOS – a prominent Mercedes sponsor – met at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix to prepare a “fighting fund” for Verstappen’s substantial salary. Jordan, known for his accurate predictions, said, “In Monaco, there was a meeting between Toto, Jim Ratcliffe of INEOS [and] Ola Kallenius, and together they put together a fighting fund to cover off the possibility of a salary requirement to cover Max. Max was aware of it. I’m not actually sure he was at the meeting, but surely that gives some indication about the steely commitment by Toto and his team to actually get Max on board at some stage. We shouldn’t be surprised to see Max in a Mercedes car in the next years.”
The battle for Max Verstappen’s signature is heating up, with both Mercedes and Aston Martin presenting compelling cases. While Doornbos and other insiders lean towards Mercedes, the allure of Honda and Adrian Newey could make Aston Martin a formidable contender. As 2026 approaches, the Formula 1 landscape promises to be reshaped by new regulations and potentially new alliances. One thing is certain: Verstappen’s decision will be pivotal in defining the future dynamics of the sport.
