There is one irrefutable statistical fact: every single Grand Prix has been won by Max Verstappen with a car designed by Adrian Newey. Another key element is that the four world titles won by the Dutchman from 2021 to 2024 have been powered by a Honda engine.
This winning package is now on the move, heading to Silverstone, where Aston Martin harbors high ambitions of breaking the dominance of the usual top teams.
Red Bull 2026: Doubts about the engine program
In 2025, Red Bull will complete its last year of partnership with the Japanese engine manufacturer. After that, a true revolution awaits. The Milton Keynes-based team will have to produce its first Power Unit developed in collaboration with Ford, which will focus mainly on the electrical components, given its expertise, especially in battery technology.
Red Bull has been working on this program for some time, but there is some skepticism surrounding the project, as a newcomer to engine manufacturing will have to deal with highly complex units and face established engine manufacturers with major industrial giants backing them.
Perhaps for this reason, Max Verstappen made sure that his contract included a termination clause that could be activated if the future prospects don’t meet the expectations of someone who wants to participate to win, not just to watch from the sidelines.
Juan Pablo Montoya suggests Max Verstappen consider Aston Martin
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, reflecting on the medium-term future of the Austrian team, suggested that Max Verstappen joining Aston Martin, reuniting with Adrian Newey and Honda, is an option worth considering.
Aston Martin had a disappointing 2024 F1 season, a stark contrast to 2023. Lawrence Stroll’s team couldn’t surpass 100 points, a meager total stemming from a series of technical decisions made halfway through last season. Fernando Alonso didn’t even secure a podium, and Lance Stroll did worse, contributing just 24 of Aston Martin’s 94 total points.
Despite this, Montoya believes that the Canadian driver is not as bad as some claim. He sees Stroll as a fixed point in the team – possibly due to family ties – and thinks that Alonso, due to age, will eventually have to step aside.
“I don’t think Lance is as bad as people say,” Montoya said to Instant Casino. “He has improved, but I’m not sure what little he’s missing or what he needs. I think the difficult part is the point where Fernando will benefit from Adrian Newey’s involvement. If everything aligns well, Aston could win in ’27 or ’28, not before. But by 2028, Fernando will be 47/48 years old. At that point, who will be there? And will Lance still want to race?”
If Stroll or Alonso were to leave the team in the near future, Montoya wouldn’t be surprised to see Verstappen join in a reunion with Newey and Honda. “It wouldn’t be the most surprising thing in the world if Max Verstappen joined Aston Martin, right?” Montoya asked. “Honda and Newey would be quite happy to have Max driving the car.”
For now, these are just the hopes of the former Colombian driver, not backed by factual elements. However, it is clear that many observers share similar sentiments, as Max Verstappen thrives in work environments that place him at the center of the technical project. Red Bull has done that, and it has benefited from it, but it is uncertain whether this model will be replicated in the future, even with regulatory changes.
Lawrence Stroll is in Formula 1 to win, and he has proven he is willing to spend to create a top-tier technical lineup. Max Verstappen would be the proverbial cherry on top. Perhaps certain connections could indeed be rekindled.
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