Is Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull earlier than expected? An ex-Formula 1 driver believes that Aston Martin is making the world champion an offer he can’t refuse.
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has been linked with a possible departure from Red Bull for over a year. Now former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes that the Dutchman will receive an offer he cannot refuse – from Aston Martin.
Although Verstappen is contractually bound to Red Bull until the end of 2028, there is constant speculation about an early exit clause. Last year, reports circulated about an alleged one-billion-dollar offer from Aston Martin, which the team, however, denied.
One decisive factor could be Adrian Newey, the technical mastermind behind Verstappen’s successful Red Bull cars. Newey is now working for Aston Martin – a fact that Montoya sees as a possible reason for Verstappen to switch.
How much time does Verstappen give Red Bull?
“I think Max will get an offer from Aston Martin that he can’t refuse,” Montoya tells Vision4Sport. He suspects that Verstappen might initially give Red Bull another year to adjust to the new situation. But if the team were to run into difficulties, a change could happen sooner than expected, the ex-Formula 1 driver predicts.
The 2026 season marks a turning point in Formula 1 with new technical regulations. According to Montoya, Verstappen will use the first three races in the new regulatory era to make a decision about his future.
“If Red Bull has problems in the first year, I wouldn’t be surprised if Max had already signed elsewhere after the third race,” Montoya estimates.
Waiting for the Newey effect at Aston Martin
“If I were him, I would go to Aston Martin. Mercedes would also be an option, but Aston is the more logical choice with Adrian and Honda – everything he has won with so far is there.” There had been repeated speculation recently that Toto Wolff was working to lure Verstappen to Mercedes.
At the same time, Montoya admits that it will probably take a while for the Newey effect to be felt at Aston Martin. “It’s a whole new group and everyone has to start working together first. Will they be better next year than they are now? Absolutely,” Montoya predicts. ‘But I don’t think they’ll start winning a bunch of races right away.’
