Aston Martin team principal addresses bombshell rumours over Max Verstappen

What began as another bold -- and potentially bogus -- F1 rumour has quickly transformed into a tidal wave that threatens to flatten the paddock.

What began as another bold -- and potentially bogus -- F1 rumour has quickly transformed into a tidal wave that threatens to flatten the paddock.

What began as another bold -- and potentially bogus -- F1 rumour has quickly transformed into a tidal wave of speculation, with Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack sending shockwaves through the paddock following whispers Max Verstappen was being poached from Red Bull.

Italian outlet Autosprint sparked a flame this week, claiming team owner Lawrence Stroll was on a warpath to gut Red Bull of its most prized assets.

Krack has now poured fuel on that rumour, which could see Verstappen re-join legendary car designer Adrian Newey at the team.

The move to snag Newey was already enough to spark excitement amongst fans, who believe much-loved veteran Fernando Alonso could bring home an elusive third championship with Newey working behind the scenes.

But it seems Stroll is far from done with his high-stakes spending spree, and is looking to offer Verstappen a bumper deal that dwarfs his current $60 million per year contract with Red Bull.

With Aston Martin set to debut Honda power units in 2026 and aim squarely at the top of the grid, whispers of Verstappen’s dissatisfaction following Newey’s departure have reached fever pitch.

The Dutchman, a three-time world champion, is contracted with Red Bull until 2028, but in the wild world of F1, nothing is set in stone. If Stroll puts the right money on the table, Christian Horner and his team could find themselves with an impossible conundrum, dealing with a car that is quickly falling behind the pack while also scrambling to fill the un-replaceable generational talent that is Verstappen.

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has now poured fuel on the rumour, which could see Verstappen re-join legendary car designer Adrian Newey at the team.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Krack ran at the rumours head-on and openly invited Verstappen to consider a future with Aston Martin.

“The door for Max Verstappen is always open, for everything,” Krack said.

“When you manage to appoint Adrian Newey, first of all, it is proof that the project is credible, that the whole vision of Lawrence is not just words. It is real action that we can take confidence from as a team.

“This is not an underdog team like it used to be in the past.

“It is a team that should be confident it can do it, but also you now have a completely different approach with partners and drivers. Signing Newey opens a lot of doors for the future.“

Lawrence Stroll is on a warpath to gut Red Bull of its most prized assets.

But it’s not just Aston Martin courting the Dutchman. Mercedes are also said to be eyeing Verstappen for a potential future move, especially with Lewis Hamilton set to jump ship to Ferrari at the end of this season.

While Mercedes remains tight-lipped on the rumours, the Silver Arrows are reportedly already laying the groundwork to secure the man who famously snatched the 2021 title from Hamilton in a controversial finish.

Despite leading the drivers’ standings, Verstappen’s dominance with Red Bull seems to be under pressure this season, thanks to a resurgent McLaren.

And as the team gears up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku—a circuit where they’ve historically struggled—rumours about Verstappen’s future are casting a long shadow over the race weekend.

After three solid years of utter domination, including a remarkable 10-race winning streak, the current blip in Red Bull’s performance may prove too much for Verstappen’s patience with the team.

If the bombshell Aston Martin news is true, Stroll, who currently employs his son Lance to partner Alonso at the team, will be forced to make a tough decision between keeping Lance on board and potentially having the most dangerous driver line-up on the grid with Verstappen partnering two-time champ Alonso.

At 43, Alonso has defied all odds to remain one of the sport’s most feared competitors. And he hasn’t hinted he’s leaving anytime soon.

Meanwhile Verstappen, like many other champions past, has a ferocious appetite for winning and will likely be tucked away in the sheds this weekend pondering his options.

After three solid years of utter domination, including a remarkable 10-race winning streak, the current blip in Red Bull’s performance may prove too much for his patience with the team, which already went through an uncomfortable PR nightmare concerning Christian Horner earlier this year.

Verstappen’s morale has dipped so much that he doesn’t believe he can retain his world title after flopping at the Italian Grand Prix.

The man who turned Red Bull’s rocket ship into 61 race wins now believes the car is “undriveable”.

His lead on Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship was cut to 62 points after he finished sixth at Monza as his barren run of GPs without a win was extended to six.

Asked by reporters whether he was worried about losing what had looked like a certain fourth straight world crown when he won the Spanish GP in June, Verstappen said: “At the moment both championships (drivers’ and constructors’) are not realistic.

“The car is undriveable. It’s a massive balance problem that we have. And that of course is not only over one lap but also in the race.”