It’s been reported that Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s chief technical officer, pegged for retirement at the end of this season, has signed up with rival team Aston Martin. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s now been reported by the Italian publication Autosprint that Max Verstappen could be following in his footsteps.
While it is yet to be confirmed, Red Bull’s outgoing designer is expected to be moving to the Lawrence Stroll-owned team, following the result of his recent visit to the Silverstone factory mere months ago. His decision was reportedly driven by a lucrative offer from Aston Martin’s billionaire owner and the allure of working in the UK—further sweetened by the team’s significant recent upgrades to their now-shiny new factory.
The possible acquisition of Verstappen is linked not only to Newey’s switch but also to a series of factors that could influence the Dutch champion’s future. Not least, Aston Martin is due to be powered solely by Honda engines from 2026—a huge lure for Verstappen, considering Honda’s performance peaked as an F1 benchmark in 2021.
Moreover, the speculated exit of Verstappen from Red Bull could be further instigated by reported internal rows and allegations of improper conduct between members of the top echelons at Red Bull.
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This includes disputes between team principal Christian Horner and senior advisor Helmut Marko, who supposedly have differences with Verstappen’s father, Jos, which could strengthen his resolve to look for greener pastures. The internal upheaval at Red Bull, coupled with the exit of large names and a team that is less competitive against rivals like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, makes for a strong platform for Verstappen’s exit despite his contract running until 2028.
This series of events call to mind Newey’s previous flirtation with Ferrari, which went up in smoke over salary disagreements, and the bombshell news of Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile’s transfer to Aston Martin, which is still embroiled in legal rows over the terms of his departure.
It’s not just famous names like Newey, and maybe Verstappen, that Aston Martin is moving into position. At the same time, to make room for the 3-time champion, the team may be looking to find a route for current Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll—son of Lawrence—to their WEC program, possibly behind the wheel of the Newey-partially-designed Valkyrie.
Should Aston Martin manage to secure Verstappen and Newey, there’s no telling what could be possible with funding from the Strolls. While the team has been struggling so far this season, we could see a strong influx of performance come next year, or more likely, 2026.