Max Verstappen says his Crimson Bull colleague Adrian Newey’s forthcoming transfer to Aston Martin might “potentially” make becoming a member of the rival squad a extra enticing proposition.
Aston Martin introduced on Tuesday that Newey will take part March 2025 as managing technical associate and a shareholder of the crew. The legendary designer stepped away from his position as Crimson Bull’s chief technical officer in Could however is seeing out his work on the corporate’s first hypercar.
Regardless of having a contract with Crimson Bull till the top of 2028, Verstappen has been closely linked with a swap to Mercedes, however Aston Martin’s newest present of intent might make the Silverstone-based squad one other viable possibility for the three-time world champion.
Requested whether or not Newey’s presence at a crew makes it a extra enticing possibility for a driver, Verstappen replied: “I do not know. I’ve labored with him, so I understand how he’s as an individual additionally, what he can do.
“I believe everybody want to work with Adrian, I assume, of their profession.
“So yeah, potentially it is (a more attractive proposition), yeah.”
Talking earlier on Thursday from the paddock on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Aston Martin crew principal Mike Krack had mentioned the door for Verstappen to hitch his crew “is always open”.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Craig Slater explains why Adrian Newey is about to earn greater than Pep Guardiola when the legendary F1 designer joins Aston Martin from Crimson Bull in 2025
Requested about Krack’s remarks, Verstappen refused to rule out a “future” transfer to Aston Martin however mentioned for the second he’s centered on arresting Crimson Bull’s hunch in kind and trying to carry onto his 62-point world championship lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris.
“I have other worries at the moment that I’m paying a lot of attention to and working on,” Verstappen mentioned.
“So that is something maybe for the future that I think about, not now.”
Hamilton: Newey will not change Aston Martin in a single day
Earlier than selecting to hitch Aston Martin, Newey had been linked with a transfer to Ferrari to work alongside Lewis Hamilton, who’s leaving Mercedes to hitch the Italian squad subsequent season.
The seven-time world champion had beforehand expressed pleasure at the potential of working with Newey, however the Hamilton mentioned on Thursday that he was “not disappointed” on the final result.
“I feel like, while I mentioned before that it would be an honour to work with Adrian, I’ve been privileged to work with two championship-winning teams that didn’t have Adrian,” Hamilton mentioned.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Lewis Hamilton mentioned Adrian Newey could be a tremendous addition to Ferrari after the designer’s exit from Crimson Bull was confirmed in Could
“I think probably any team would have been happy to have had him, but at the end of the day he had to do what was best for him.
“It would not change something for me or my aim or my focus with the following transfer. So I nonetheless consider 100 per cent that there is heaps that we are able to do.”
Newey is the most recent in a sequence of a high-profile signings by Aston Martin, who’ve additionally introduced in former Ferrari designer Enrico Cardile as chief technical officer and former Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell as group chief govt.
The appointments, together with crew proprietor Lawrence Stroll’s funding in a model new manufacturing unit and wind tunnel, have heightened expectations that Aston Martin might be a significant participant when new laws are launched to the game in 2026.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Lewis Hamilton appears forward optimistically to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, regardless of disappointing outcomes there with Mercedes prior to now
Hamilton mentioned: “He (Newey) has been part of many teams building championship-winning cars. Without doubt he will be a positive for that team. But you don’t just slot one person in and it changes overnight.
“There are a number of adjustments that have to be made. There’s an enormous quantity of individuals within the background that make Crimson Bull what it’s, Ferrari and Mercedes and so forth. It is by no means down to 1 particular person. It is a crew effort.
“It will be interesting to see how the team evolves over the years.”
Alonso: Newey will not affect 2025 Aston automotive
As the driving force who will lastly get to work with Newey at Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso is accepting Newey is unlikely to have the ability to make an influence earlier than 2026 on the earliest.
Requested on Thursday whether or not Newey might affect Aston Martin’s 2025 automotive, Alonso mentioned: “I do not suppose so. I want to say sure, however truthfully, I do not suppose so.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Fernando Alonso shares his ideas on whether or not Adrian Newey can have any affect over Aston Martin’s 2025 marketing campaign
“March 2025, I think the focus for most of the teams will be 2026 projects and the change of regulations. You start in March, until you know everybody, and you take your place in the factories, it’s April or May.
“And I do not suppose that it is actually value spending an excessive amount of within the 2025 marketing campaign, until you’re combating for the championship… I hope we’ve got a pleasant shock, however I doubt it. So I believe the 2026 mission ought to be the primary automotive that he has an affect.”
Alonso additionally revealed his makes an attempt to influence Newey to hitch Aston Martin included a prolonged dialog on the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique in Could.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
On the Sky Sports activities F1 Podcast, Ted Kravitz says if Fernando Alonso fights off any psychological fatigue, he may very well be within the likelihood to compete for the Championship in an Adrian Newey automotive
“I texted him, for sure, like everybody did probably, that you know, wanted to work with him,” Alonso mentioned.
“And yeah, I saw him also at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix that he was racing that week as well and we spent half an hour chatting as well.
“All of us tried to influence him. And I believe finally, Lawrence’s imaginative and prescient, the brand new manufacturing unit and what Aston Martin desires for the long run, along with Honda as properly, have been in all probability key components listening to what Adrian mentioned (at his unveiling).”
Sky Sports activities F1’s stay Azerbaijan GP schedule
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Look again at a number of the most dramatic moments to have taken place across the Baku Metropolis Circuit
Friday September 13
7.55am: F2 Observe
10am: Azerbaijan GP Observe One (session begins 10.30am)
11.55am: F2 Qualifying
1.45pm: Azerbaijan GP Observe Two (session begins 2pm)
3.15pm: The F1 Present
Saturday September 14
9.15am: Azerbaijan GP Observe Three (session begins 9.30am)
11.10am: F2 Dash
12.15pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build-up
1pm: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING*
3pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday September 15
8.30am: F2 Function Race
10:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12pm: The AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP response
3pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally stay on Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion
Formulation 1 leaves mainland Europe for Baku and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, stay on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
