David Croft says Aston Martin could give Max Verstappen a route back to F1 if he retires

Follow us on Google Discover

Rumours about Max Verstappen walking away from Formula 1 are rife, and David Croft has pointed the Red Bull star to Aston Martin.

Verstappen is not at all happy with the 2026 F1 regulations, expressing frustration over how to drive the new cars and preserve the battery. It has led to speculation about his future, with Verstappen openly saying that he is considering retiring.

The situation at Red Bull is not helping things either, with his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, leaving the team for McLaren in 2028. Red Bull are falling apart with several key figures out of the door in recent months, and Verstappen could be next.

It has been widely suggested that the 28-year-old could take a sabbatical from F1 and explore other interests. He has his sim racing project, and Verstappen has been competing in GT3 races at the Nurburgring.

Many people are also wondering if Verstappen’s relationship with Red Bull will come to an end. He is free to leave the team through an exit clause in 2026, and Croft sees a route for him to join Aston Martin should he choose to step away.

David Croft thinks Aston Martin is the only team Max Verstappen could join if he retires from F1

Speaking via The F1 Show, the commentator thinks the Silverstone outfit could be the right fit for the Dutchman. Verstappen has been linked with McLaren after Lambiase’s move, and even Ferrari, but Croft sees Aston Martin as his best option.

“Would Adrian Newey, or those in the inner circle of Adrian Newey that give him advice, want Christian Horner to come in above Adrian Newey and have that relationship once again?” he said.

“Will Lawrence Stroll want Christian coming in and will he be prepared to give him the autonomy and the authority to make the decisions without consulting Lawrence, who is the CEO and chairman, and that probably involves whether his son continues to race for the team as well.

“And would Christian coming in then start to attract the talented people that they need and would that also include Max Verstappen.

Has Lawrence Stroll made too many changes at Aston Martin?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

“Because if you’re right, Max goes away and has his little sabbatical, I think that really could happen, has a year out, has two years out. Could he then come back to Aston Martin in the future?

“Because I don’t know where else at the moment Max would come back to. I think the Mercedes ship has sailed a little bit. McLaren seem pretty settled. Lewis and Charles have a very good relationship at Ferrari.

“Where would Max come back that could afford him and give him the chance to win titles? Because everything on paper, Aston Martin should be a championship-winning team, but we compete on tarmac, not paper.”

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

Aston Martin were keen on Max Verstappen in 2025

With Adrian Newey, Honda, and now Jonathan Wheatley set to join Aston Martin, the team does look an attractive option on paper, but things on the track have been a disaster.

Aston Martin are well off the pace in 2026, struggling to get off the back of the grid. They hope to improve their situation, but right now, it is far from a team that Verstappen would want to join.

Aston Martin were keen on signing Verstappen, among other drivers, for the future. Fernando Alonso could retire at the end of 2026, while Lance Stroll’s contract is also up at the end of the year.

However, it was reported that Verstappen had no interest in replacing Alonso at the Silverstone outfit. Things may change in the future, but everyone will be waiting to see what the Red Bull driver will choose to do with his career.