Helmut Marko issues firm stance on Max Verstappen joining Aston Martin

Follow us on Google Discover

Helmut Marko has shared a firm stance on speculation that Max Verstappen could try to follow legendary Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey from Red Bull to Aston Martin.

It was finally confirmed ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that Newey has signed for Aston Martin after securing an early release from his contract at Red Bull. The 65-year-old will now trade Milton Keynes for Silverstone in March 2025, and lead the design of their car for 2026.

Signing Newey is an incredible coup for Aston Martin, a team still yet to win a single race let alone a title in Formula 1. The Briton became the most in-demand man in the paddock once Red Bull announced this May that Newey was leaving his role as their chief technical officer.

Helmut Marko rebuts claims Max Verstappen will follow Adrian Newey to Aston Martin

Every Formula 1 team showed interest in Newey but Aston Martin won the race to sign F1’s most successful person ever. He has designed 13 drivers’ title-winning and 12 constructors’ championship-winning cars through jaunts with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull since 1992.

The last three drivers’ titles and two teams’ titles Newey has won came at Red Bull through Verstappen. They could yet win another double this year, as well. So, naturally, reports have surfaced that Verstappen may follow Newey to Aston Martin with the latter leaving Red Bull.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Formula 1’s 2026 engine and chassis rules

According to F1-Insider, Aston Martin are already flirting with Verstappen and Newey is also trying to convince the 26-year-old to leave Red Bull. But Marko – the motorsport advisor to Red Bull GmbH – does not feel there is any truth in the Dutchman wanting to follow Newey.

“I have no idea where that comes from,” Marko has told OE24. “Believe me, at the moment Max is only thinking about winning the championship!”

Lawrence Stroll will do ‘whatever it takes’ for Aston Martin to sign Max Verstappen

Newey agreeing to a contract worth £20m per year, rising to £30m with bonuses, with Aston Martin could certainly help the Silverstone squad to convince Verstappen to quit Red Bull. It is with Newey-designed cars that he has had success and that could continue in Silverstone.

Additionally, the team’s billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll is willing to do ‘whatever it takes’ to convince Verstappen to join Aston Martin. But with the team formerly known as Jordan and Force India becoming the works Honda outfit in 2026, Aston Martin might face a challenge.

F1-Insider claims that Verstappen’s camp are not totally receptive to Aston Martin’s interest as they are banking on a seat at Mercedes becoming available given the expected strengths of their engine under Formula 1’s 2026 regulations. There are doubts about Honda’s engine.