Max Verstappen must avoid joining Aston Martin after what Adrian Newey has just said about the team’s 2026 F1 car

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Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen is at a crossroads in his Formula 1 career.

Ever since that infamous conclusion to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has had very little reason to explore his options beyond Red Bull.

He’s now a four-time drivers’ champion thanks to the work that Red Bull have done to be the dominant force in Formula 1.

However, that feeling in the paddock that Red Bull were the team to beat started to change last year, when first McLaren and then Ferrari leapfrogged them in the pecking order.

Verstappen used every ounce of skill to win a fourth consecutive championship, but any hope of retaining his title in 2025 appears lost.

Red Bull parted ways with Christian Horner after the British Grand Prix, but he was just the latest senior member of staff to leave the Anglo-Austrian outfit.

Rob Marshall has worked wonders at McLaren, and Will Courtenay will soon join him, while Jonathan Wheatley’s influence is already being felt at Sauber after Nico Hulkenberg’s maiden Formula 1 podium.

Arguably, the man Red Bull have missed the most is Adrian Newey, who has become managing technical director at Aston Martin.

Verstappen has been linked with a move to Aston Martin next season, but the designer’s recent comments on the work going on behind the scenes at Silverstone should be enough to convince the Dutchman to hold off on a move.

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

Max Verstappen should hold off on Aston Martin move after Adrian Newey comments

Newey started work at Aston Martin in March and was immediately placed on their 2026 F1 car project.

Aston Martin currently sit eighth in the constructors’ championship, and while it would be tempting for Lawrence Stroll to ask him to look over what can be improved with this year’s car, it would ultimately be a waste of time.

Newey is working late into the night at Aston Martin on next year’s car; however, that’s no guarantee of success.

Since his arrival, Newey has had to teach his new colleagues how to use some of the new tools installed at their state-of-the-art factory in recent months.

It shows how much catching up Aston Martin have to do to be at the same level as Red Bull by the time the new regulations are introduced next year.

Speaking to F1 Insider, Newey admitted Aston Martin are behind their rivals in terms of development and said: “You’re practically always playing catch-up.

“Until March, little had been done here for 2026. A little, of course, but we’ve had a huge amount of work to do since then.”

Newey might be pushing the boundaries for next season, but Verstappen isn’t in a position where he needs to take a risk on Aston Martin being the leading team in Formula 1 next year.

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin managing technical partner Adrian Newey

Should Max Verstappen stay at Red Bull or join Mercedes ahead of Aston Martin?

There are three options on the table for Verstappen ahead of next season.

The most obvious and most likely option is Verstappen stays at Red Bull for at least one more season.

It would allow him to give Red Bull one last chance to prove they can build a championship-winning car and allow him to fully assess their new power unit.

Not only that, but Verstappen can then determine whether Aston Martin, Mercedes or another team is his best option for 2027.

Mercedes will have to eventually commit to George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as they can’t wait for Verstappen forever.

However, convincing one or both of them to only sign one-year deals to leave a potential seat open for the Dutchman the following year won’t be easy.

Aston Martin have shown they’ll go all-out to bring in the most talented people in Formula 1.

Verstappen certainly fits that criterion, even if joining Newey next season doesn’t make sense right now.