The four-time World Champion has always made it clear that he intends to race for a team capable of offering him the conditions to win. His name has long been linked to Mercedes, which genuinely considered the Dutch driver for the 2026 season. Aston Martin has also been mentioned due to the arrival of Adrian Newey and the presence of Honda, but the truth is that everything will depend on how the competitive order shapes up next year.
The Max Verstappen objective
Speaking to “De Telegraaf,” Jonathan Wheatley shared his thoughts on the possibility of Verstappen joining Audi: “Yes, I want Max Verstappen to drive our car,” he said. The Dutch driver’s talent is obviously sought after by every Formula 1 team, as Toto Wolff previously hinted. Jonathan Wheatley, however, did not mince words and highlighted a factor that could help facilitate future negotiations.
“I’m fortunate to have been friends with Max for a long time, but also with his father, Jos, and his manager, Raymond,” the future Team Principal of the German outfit added. “Friendships like these develop because you are always honest and never betray the trust you have built.”
Nonetheless, everything ultimately revolves around the performance of the car. Audi aims to fight for the world championship by 2030, but the level of competition in Formula 1 is incredibly high, and even the most ambitious project can face challenges. The success of the plan to bring Max Verstappen on board will inevitably depend on whether Audi proves capable of offering him a winning path.
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