Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull is becoming increasingly unclear, despite his contract having another three years to run, with a major rules change coming to F1 in 2026
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has been backed to ditch Red Bull and move to Aston Martin. Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull from Toro Rosso back in 2016 and has since won four drivers’ world championships with the Austrian team.
But fractures in his relationship with the team have been growing over the past year. The Dutchman has a contract witch runs until the end of the 2028 season, though there ae doubts he will see that through.
Red Bull have endured a mixed campaign so far, though Verstappen delivered a brilliant qualifying lap on Saturday to set up a win in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix. He now sits only a point behind Lando Norris in the championship standings.
The sport will undergo a major rules change in 2026, which looks set to shake up the grid. Ahead of those changes, Red Bull have been put on the back foot by the departure of design guru Adrian Newey, who has chosen to join Aston Martin.
Verstappen has now been tipped to follow in Newey’s footsteps by Richard Hopkins, who was head of operations for Red Bull between 2013 and 2015. Hopkins believes that Verstappen could be tempted into a switch.
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“Honestly, yes, I think Verstappen could be tempted by Aston Martin if Adrian Newey is involved. I’m not a betting man, but everywhere Adrian has been, success has followed. He hasn’t lost his magic or his mojo,” he told Prime Casino.
“No one really thinks he has. He’s still more than capable of delivering results. Adrian’s a quiet figure, commanding but not loud. People are in awe of him. That said, success isn’t just about one person. Just having Adrian at Aston Martin won’t be enough on its own.
“You need the right infrastructure, people, and environment. But Adrian being at Aston could absolutely attract others just like he drew me to Red Bull. And Max? He might be tempted too.
“Maybe not right away, maybe only once a few more key figures are in place, but Adrian has that Pied Piper effect. People follow him. And let’s not forget Lawrence Stroll has the budget to make it happen. Money wouldn’t be the issue.
“But it’s not just about money for Max. It could be about legacy, about going to a team like Aston Martin and turning it into a winner, much like Lewis hopes to do with Ferrari. Max might want the chance to say ‘they’re on top now and I helped get them there’.”
Verstappen would be a prim target for any team in the market for a driver for some time to come, given he is only 27-years-old. And Hopkins has also tipped Ferrari to rival Aston for his signature.
“For instance, McLaren would need to mess up badly to lose Lando and Oscar, they’ve got two great young drivers locked into multi-year deals, and they’re performing. Unless something drastic happens, they’re not going anywhere,” he added.
“ Mercedes is another contender, they’re showing signs of strength again. But with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli waiting in the wings, they’re not exactly desperate for talent either.
“Then there’s Ferrari. If Lewis doesn’t stay as long as expected, an early departure could open a door for Max. And that might be attractive. But let’s come back to Aston. How long is Lance Stroll realistically going to stay in that seat?
“If you’re Lawrence Stroll and you have to choose between keeping your son or bringing in a multiple-time world champion like Max who’s driving at a level beyond even Lando and Oscar, you’ve got a tough decision. Maybe it calls for a bit of tough love.”
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