Max Verstappen has made his position clear on the growing rumours regarding his future in Formula 1, following reports suggesting that Aston Martin could be targeting the Red Bull driver for a potential switch with a staggering deal worth $1.2 billion. The Dutch driver, currently a four-time World Champion, has reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull while remaining open to future possibilities.
Verstappen’s current Red Bull contract
Verstappen's current contract with Red Bull runs until the end of 2028, a deal that was initially signed after he secured his first Drivers' Championship in 2022.
Since then, the 27-year-old has retained his title every season, establishing himself as one of the most dominant forces in the sport. His impressive consistency has made him a key figure in F1, and any potential move away from Red Bull is sure to turn heads.
Aston Martin’s alleged interest
The latest speculation surrounding Verstappen's future began with a report from the Daily Mail, which claimed that Aston Martin was exploring the possibility of signing the star driver. The report cited a 'close lieutenant' of team owner Lawrence Stroll, who was reportedly pitching Verstappen as a potential signing to investors.
This speculation was fueled further by the presence of Adrian Newey, the former Red Bull chief technical officer, who is now working with Aston Martin as their managing technical partner.
However, Aston Martin was quick to deny these claims, and when approached by GP Blog, Verstappen's management offered a brief response, stating: “That's nice.” While the comment was lighthearted, it did little to quell the ongoing rumours surrounding his potential move.
Verstappen’s career path and F1 commitment
Having been in F1 for nearly a decade, Verstappen’s journey began in 2015 when he was signed by Toro Rosso, before being promoted to Red Bull in 2016. His rapid rise to success has cemented his position as one of the sport's top talents. Despite his dominance in F1, Verstappen has expressed his interest in exploring other motorsport disciplines in the future, including endurance racing and sim racing.
Speaking in 2023, Verstappen shared his broader passion for racing: “Some people love racing because that’s the only thing they do, really. For me, I love racing. I still do, but I also want to do other things and not only Formula 1 at some stage.”
When asked about the possibility of joining Aston Martin, Verstappen remained non-committal. Referring to Newey’s move to the team last year, he acknowledged the growing connection between himself and the Silverstone-based squad, stating: “I have other worries at the moment that I’m paying a lot of attention to and working on.”
Although he didn't dismiss the idea outright, Verstappen added, “That is something maybe for the future that I think about, not now. I know that Lawrence is pushing flat out for it to be a success and I hope for them that it can be a success.”
For now, Verstappen’s focus remains firmly on his current contract with Red Bull, and there are no immediate signs that he will be making a move to Aston Martin. However, as he continues to dominate the sport, F1 fans will undoubtedly keep an eye on his future decisions and potential new challenges beyond the world of Formula 1.