Earlier than Christian Horner's Crimson Bull exit, Max Verstappen's future was one of many fundamental speaking factors within the Method 1 paddock.
Amid Crimson Bull's early-season struggles, the efficiency clauses on the earth champion's contract got here below scrutiny. Verstappen in the end couldn't activate them, since he was within the prime three of the drivers' championship at first of the summer season break.
The Dutchman made clear in Hungary that he would stick with Crimson Bull for 2026 no matter these clauses. These phrases ended all hypothesis, which had primarily centered on Mercedes. George Russell publicly talked about talks between Toto Wolff and the Verstappen camp, with the Mercedes boss replying it was “fully regular” for any staff principal to discover the place the way forward for a four-time world champion lies.
However Mercedes wasn't the one staff linked to Verstappen – Aston Martin additionally obtained media consideration. Experiences a couple of ‘one-billion supply' proved overly optimistic, however Fernando Alonso nonetheless known as it “flattering” that Verstappen's identify was even related to the Lawrence Stroll-owned outfit.
Workforce principal Andy Cowell shared that sentiment, as he instructed Autosport: “Ever since Lawrence purchased the staff, his phrases have been backed up with motion.
“Once you see the campus, while you see the funding he is received contained in the campus, while you see his method on recruiting folks like Adrian [Newey], he is decided. At which level, the entire paddock can see that there is a willpower to go from a staff that was about survival to a staff that's right here to win.”
Andy Cowell, Aston Martin Racing
Picture by: Zak Mauger / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Like Alonso, Cowell sees the Verstappen rumours as an indication of the long-term potential that individuals would possibly affiliate with Aston Martin – with ‘managing technical associate' Newey onboard and Honda because the upcoming engine supplier.
“Max exhibiting media curiosity – I do not know what the proper phrase is, however Max exhibiting media curiosity is flattering,” Cowell added. “In his opinion, he can see that it is a staff that is decided and that's taking the proper steps.”
Wolff famously mentioned that each staff principal in F1 would “do a handstand” to signal Verstappen, however Cowell laughed when requested about these remarks: “I am not excellent at handstands! Even in a swimming pool, I battle.”
On a extra critical notice, he defined that Aston Martin's fundamental purpose was to construct a automobile so aggressive that the staff turns into a pure vacation spot for all prime drivers in F1.
“We're actually lucky that we have got Lance and Fernando, who've received nice expertise, carrying throughout by way of to at the least the tip of 2026. Meaning we have got drivers that we will simply chat to brazenly about subsequent yr.
“After I chat to Adrian and once I chat to all of the engineers, what we're decided to do is to give you a very quick race automobile. After which we wish each single driver with a superlicence to wish to drive our automobile.”
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