Alonso open to Verstappen team-up at Aston Martin, but says it’s “very unlikely”

Fernando Alonso has expressed openness to the idea of sharing a garage with Max Verstappen at Aston Martin, but cast doubt over the likelihood of such a move ever happening.

As speculation intensifies over Max Verstappen's Formula 1 future, Aston Martin's veteran driver Fernando Alonso has addressed the possibility of teaming up with the reigning four-time world champion. Speaking ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Alonso admitted he’d welcome the Dutch driver as a teammate but quickly tempered expectations.

Yes, Alonso said when asked about potentially racing alongside Verstappen. But it's very unlikely to happen. Very unlikely.

Verstappen's Red Bull future in doubt

Despite being contracted to Red Bull Racing through 2028, Verstappen's position within the team has come under scrutiny. Internal clauses in his contract could allow him to exit early if Red Bull fails to provide a competitive car. With the RB21 struggling to keep pace with front-runners like McLaren, concerns within the Red Bull camp have grown.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko admitted post-Bahrain Grand Prix that he was "concerned" about Verstappen’s future with the team. These remarks have only fueled speculation about a potential shock switch to rivals Mercedes or Aston Martin.

£1 Billion move on the table?

Aston Martin has reportedly held preliminary discussions with Verstappen’s team regarding a massive £1 billion, five-year deal that could revolutionize the driver market. The potential move would likely see Verstappen replace either Alonso or Lance Stroll, whose father, Lawrence Stroll, holds a major ownership stake in the team.

At present, Mercedes is also seen as a potential destination, though their current line-up—featuring a strong-performing George Russell and promising rookie Kimi Antonelli—may complicate any changes.

Verstappen responds to speculation

When asked why Helmut Marko had publicly questioned his Red Bull future, Verstappen downplayed the comments.

I don't know, to be honest, he said. I just keep working and trying to improve the car.

Reflecting on the disappointing Bahrain performance, Verstappen added,

We were all pretty disappointed with that. We just keep on trying to improve the car and come up with new ideas.

When Sky Sports' David Croft asked if Marko had misunderstood the situation, Verstappen responded sharply:

No, I think just focus on commentating, I'll focus on driving, and then you don't need to think about any other scenarios.