Aston Martin sim driver just embarrassed the team with his scornful take on Max Verstappen rumours

Aston Martin have been interested in bringing in four-time champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull for the 2026 season and beyond.

The Dutchman’s future with the Milton Keynes outfit is uncertain, despite having a contract until 2028. His frustrations towards Red Bull’s development of the RB21 and the unknowns surrounding their power unit in 2026 have sparked rumours that he could be set for an early exit.

The F1 driver market is waiting on Verstappen’s decision, with this set to cause several movements up and down the paddock. Aston Martin have been one of the teams to express a serious interest in signing the 27-year-old.

Lawrence Stroll has invested heavily behind the scenes at Silverstone to prepare the team for the new regulations. Adrian Newey has had a huge impact already, with the legendary engineer, as well as the new facilities and Honda engines, making Aston Martin an attractive project for Verstappen.

Stroll reportedly offered Verstappen a £1bn contract to try and lure him away from Red Bull. Fernando Alonso and his son Lance Stroll have contracts until 2026, but the team will not pass on the opportunity to sign the Dutchman.

However, it seems as though the 27-year-old has closed that door. Verstappen will ‘definitely’ not join Aston Martin, and even the team’s sim driver has dispelled the rumours.

Daniel Juncadella says ‘who in their right mind’ thinks Max Verstappen would join Aston Martin

Speaking via the Nachez YouTube channel, Aston Martin man Daniel Juncadella addressed the rumours of Verstappen being linked to his team. Despite the Silverstone outfit’s pursuit of the Dutchman, he wonders ‘who in their right mind’ thinks he will actually make the move.

Talking about the mood around the Aston Martin camp heading into 2026, Juncadella said: “I think it’s too soon, you know? And like I said, since I haven’t tested 2026 in the simulator.

“I mean, what I’m sure of is that there’s no air of negativity or fear or doubt. Nothing, nothing, don’t pay attention [to the media].

“I mean, there are things that have to be taken with a grain of salt, you know? It’s like that, in the end, when a rumour suddenly comes out, and that’s like the Verstappen, Aston Martin.

“I mean, based on what it is also, who in their right mind would think that Max Verstappen wants to go to Aston Martin or that it’s not even if they pay him £1 billion.

“Do you think the kid cares about money? He only cares about winning. The team for Max is Red Bull, without a doubt.”

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Will Max Verstappen stay at Red Bull in 2026?

While the rumours linking Verstappen to Aston Martin have been shut down by Dutch media and even employees at Silverstone, his future is still up in the air.

Verstappen has a get-out clause in his Red Bull contract, which is understood to allow him to leave if he is outside the top three of the championship. He is currently third, but George Russell has closed the gap to 19 points behind him after winning the Canadian Grand Prix.

Red Bull must give Verstappen the ‘slightest hope’ of race wins to convince him to stay for next season. Red Bull’s 2026 engine is Verstappen’s ‘breaking point’; he could seek a way out if it is uncompetitive.

Robert Doornbos predicts Verstappen will join Mercedes in 2026, with the Silver Arrows holding a long interest in the Red Bull driver. The team have an excellent track record with new regulations, given their incredible success in the turbo hybrid – they are backed to repeat that with next year’s rules.