Aston Martin appear to be plotting a record-breaking deal worth an estimated £1 billion to lure Max Verstappen away from Red Bull, signalling an extraordinary shift in Formula One’s financial landscape.
Multiple industry insiders suggest Jefferson Slack, Aston Martin’s Managing Director (Commercial and Marketing), has been hinting to prospective sponsors that the four-time world champion is destined to join the Silverstone-based outfit.
Officially, Aston Martin dismiss any notion that Verstappen’s impending arrival has prompted formal offers, yet the very speculation highlights the ambitions of owner Lawrence Stroll. The Canadian billionaire has already enticed Adrian Newey—revered as the greatest car designer in F1 history—on a reported £20 million-a-year contract with added equity incentives.
Despite Verstappen’s existing deal with Red Bull through to 2028 and his repeated statements about staying at the Milton Keynes team, his unparalleled success affords him the power to name his own price. At a current salary of around £50 million per annum, sources suggest an offer nearing £200 million a year—plus potential equity in Aston Martin—may be required to prompt a move, mirroring the arrangement that prised Newey from Red Bull.
Stroll’s drive to challenge Red Bull and Mercedes at the summit of Formula One underscores these aggressive tactics. Insiders claim that Newey, in particular, is convinced neither Lance Stroll (the owner’s son) nor 44-year-old Fernando Alonso is the long-term solution for title triumphs. Securing Verstappen would therefore represent a transformative step towards championship glory.
On Verstappen’s side, any decision will likely depend on the future performance of Red Bull’s partnership with Ford under evolving regulations, as well as the growing potential of Aston Martin’s project. Although talk so far has been limited to “casual contact” over endurance racing, the possibility of a formal offer further highlights the sport’s swelling commercial clout.
If the Dutch star were to leave Red Bull and reunite with Newey at Aston Martin, the fallout would be monumental—potentially dislodging Red Bull’s stranglehold on the grid and propelling Aston Martin to the forefront of the championship race.
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Aston Martin poised for £1bn Verstappen coup in F1 power play