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Aston Martin might now emerge as the most likely landing spot for Max Verstappen if Red Bull cannot convince the four-time F1 champion not to activate his release clause.
Verstappen has often created doubts about his future with Red Bull in recent months, as he hates the new engine regulations and has grown increasingly frustrated by his team’s lack of results. Back-to-back rear wing failures in Austria and Britain have also not helped his mood.
Spinning out of P3 in the British Grand Prix after his rotating rear wing failed to close quickly enough for the downforce to reattach also ensured Verstappen is now guaranteed to get the right to break his contract at Red Bull early. But the Dutchman’s options now seem very slim.
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Verstappen will have from August to October to trigger his release clause and leave Red Bull before his contract is due to expire in 2028. The clause is linked to him being outside the top two in the F1 drivers’ standings at the 2026 summer break, and he trails second place by 78 points with two rounds to go. F1 races in Belgium this week and goes to Hungary next week.
READ MORE: The five worst moments of Max Verstappen’s career in Formula 1
Yet while Verstappen has been heavily linked with Oscar Piastri’s McLaren seat, that appears to be a non-starter with Piastri’s agent Mark Webber calling the reports “nonsense”. A move to Mercedes also appears to be off the table now that George Russell is set to stay for 2027.
So, Mark Hughes reports for Motor Sport Magazine that Aston Martin might actually now be Verstappen’s best alternative to staying at Red Bull in 2027. A move to Silverstone would see the Dutchman reunite with Adrian Newey, and Aston Martin have the funds to make a deal.
A seat may be available in Silverstone, as well, as Fernando Alonso is currently due to be out of contract with Aston Martin at the end of this year. And if Verstappen were open to joining Aston Martin, Alonso ‘would accept’ that he could have to make way instead of Lance Stroll.
Alonso could stay at Aston Martin in a non-driving role were he to retire at the end of 2026 and open the door for Verstappen to join. It is considered an unlikely scenario that 71-time Grand Prix winner Verstappen would join Aston Martin, yet Hughes claims ‘never say never’.
Max Verstappen would be betting his future on Adrian Newey’s promises by joining Aston Martin
In equal machinery, who’s taking the chequered flag first out of Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen?
Verstappen would be taking an enormous gamble on Newey designing a better chassis and aero package for Aston Martin’s 2027 car, as well as on Honda getting their act together for next season, were he to quit Red Bull for the team currently 10th in the constructors’ table.
Only debutants Cadillac are below Aston Martin in the constructors’ standings, and only due to Sergio Perez picking up a 10-second penalty for being out of position at the restart during the Monaco Grand Prix giving P10 to Alonso instead of him getting Cadillac’s first point in F1.
Newey was convinced that Aston Martin would have the best chassis in F1 by now, but their efforts to develop the AMR26 are still set to leave Alonso and Stroll at the back of the pack.
It is said that Aston Martin’s B-spec car will be 2.5s per lap faster when their upgrades and Honda’s upgraded engine arrive, but it may still see them fail to get out of Q1 in qualifying.
So, Verstappen would be betting his immediate future on what Newey and Honda can offer on paper for him to replace Alonso at Aston Martin next season. Even with his anger at Red Bull seemingly mounting round by round, surely a move to Aston Martin would not appeal.
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