Max Verstappen can’t ignore what Andy Cowell has just said about Adrian Newey amid Red Bull uncertainty

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Max Verstappen’s advantage at the top of the Formula 1 pack has dwindled so much that he is no longer considered to be the favourite for future titles.

Red Bull have lost talent over the last few years and now face a lot of work to ensure that they can remain contenders for both championships.

Verstappen currently sits third in the drivers’ championship, but needs upgrades if he wants to chase either of the McLaren drivers.

Losing Adrian Newey last year may have been a bigger dent to their aspirations for more success than they realised. He pioneered so many of their famous machines, but is now Aston Martin’s valuable commodity.

After the Canadian Grand Prix, Red Bull have discovered that Verstappen holds one advantage over McLaren and is better suited on the medium tyres. It could be crucial for the rest of 2025.

Over the coming few races, Red Bull face a ‘crucial’ exam at the likes of Spielberg and Silverstone, as tracks that really test whether a car can be competitive.

READ MORE: Christian Horner has now launched charm offensive on Red Bull rival who could replace Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen can’t ignore what Andy Cowell has said about Adrian Newey

Verstappen could leave Red Bull for 2026 and has been linked with moves to the likes of Aston Martin and Mercedes.

Multiple colleagues have already left Red Bull to join other projects over the last few years, including Dan Fallows, Rob Marshall, Newey and Rob Giles most recently.

And Aston Martin team principal and CEO Andy Cowell has now revealed one benefit that Newey brings to the team that Verstappen should be very wary of. He participates in interviews and attracts people to the team.

“He does not necessarily get into the details of the interview, but he comes to chat to people for the last 15 minutes about, ‘Why do you want to come and work here? What are you interested in? And what have you worked on?'” he told The Race.

“For people to go away saying, ‘Adrian Newey spent some time with me, he’s interested in me joining’, it just adds another level of potency to the team, to bring it all together.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen’s demands for staying at Red Bull in 2026 shared with £9.5m-a-year F1 rival now ‘under more pressure’

Why Adrian Newey is a danger to Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull

After spending 20 years at Red Bull, Newey will know a lot of talented individuals and have good relationships with many of them.

Cowell’s indication that the Briton has been useful in interviews should worry Verstappen particularly, as it might tempt some of his current colleagues to leave.

The chance to work with and learn from one of the greatest minds in the history of Formula 1 would be too strong to turn down for many.

And that may continue to weaken Red Bull’s operation, which has already struggled to keep up with the recent innovations of its rivals.

With the 2026 F1 regulations dawning and rumours circulating of interest from other teams, could now be the right time for Verstappen to make an ambitious move?