Aston Martin CEO and team principal Andy Cowell has given his say on reports linking his squad with a move to sign Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for the 2026 F1 season.
The Dutchman has dominated Formula 1 in recent years to become a four-time champion. It is also possible that Verstappen joins Michael Schumacher as the only drivers to date to ever win five titles in a row in 2025. The Red Bull ace is eight points off the lead after four rounds.
Yet Verstappen is having to overcome the limitations of Red Bull’s car to act as a thorn in the side of McLaren pair, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The RB21’s through-corner balance has been an unrelenting issue for Verstappen, who can handle its sharp front end and loose rear.
Red Bull so far being unable to fix issues with their car that appeared last year has increased the chance that Verstappen could break out of his contract through the 2028 F1 season. The 27-year-old has performance-based exit clauses in his terms which can see him walk away.
Andy Cowell refuses to say there is no chance Max Verstappen joins Aston Martin in 2026
Aston Martin are one F1 team to emerge as a potential landing spot for Verstappen, despite Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll having contracts for at least 2026. Owner Lawrence Stroll is behind the outfit’s interest in Aston Martin offering Verstappen a five-year, £1bn contract.
Now, speaking at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, CEO and team principal Cowell has weighed in on the reports that Aston Martin want Verstappen. He says that having Alonso plus Stroll means he does not have to target drivers, yet Cowell refused to rule out Verstappen joining.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
“We’re incredibly fortunate that we’ve got two experienced drivers signed for the next two years,” Cowell said in the F1 team principal press conference this Friday. “And that means I can just focus on trying to help improve the business and the art of making a fast race car.”
When pushed on if that means there is no room at Aston Martin for Verstappen in 2026, he added with a smirk: “I’m saying that my head’s full of improving the company so that we can make a fast race car for Lance and Fernando.”
Max Verstappen could leave Aston Martin with a driver line-up decision to make
While Cowell refused to say that Aston Martin will not sign Verstappen for 2026, Alonso has been clearer about his view on the Red Bull star joining. While the Spaniard would welcome the Dutchman into Silverstone, Alonso believes Verstappen joining Aston Martin is ‘unlikely’.
Canadian billionaire owner Stroll would also either have to kick his son Lance out or pay off Alonso for Verstappen to join Aston Martin in 2026. Yet with Verstappen losing belief in Red Bull’s technical team under Pierre Wache, he may want to reunite with Adrian Newey soon.
Wache has stepped up to fill Newey’s void at the top of Red Bull’s design team following the F1 legend’s departure plus subsequent transfer to Aston Martin as their managing technical partner. But they have not yet resolved issues Verstappen raised with Red Bull’s car last year.
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