Max Verstappen now considering move to 542-point Mercedes rivals ‘in the back of his mind’ if he quits Red Bull

Follow us on Google Discover

Max Verstappen finds himself in the relatively unique position of being at the centre of the Formula 1 driver market despite having a long-term contract.

Red Bull will be desperate for Max Verstappen to honour his current contractual agreement.

Verstappen currently has a deal that runs until the end of the 2028 season, and without him, the Anglo-Austrian team would be rooted to the bottom of the constructors’ championship.

Yuki Tsunoda has scored seven points since his Racing Bulls promotion, with Liam Lawson failing to trouble the scorers during his two-race stint with the team.

It’s yet to be seen whether Christian Horner’s Red Bull dismissal has harmed or improved the team’s chances of retaining their most valuable asset.

Mercedes have been heavily linked with Verstappen, and the delay in George Russell or Andrea Kimi Antonelli signing a contract extension suggests Toto Wolff is giving the 27-year-old every opportunity to part ways with Red Bull this season.

However, journalist Ralf Bach, who is close to the Verstappen camp, believes another team could still enter the equation.

Aston Martin, who have scored 542 points in their F1 history, might not be front-runners right now, but they’re on a very exciting trajectory under the leadership of Lawrence Stroll.

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

Aston Martin move ‘in the back of’ Max Verstappen’s mind as he considers Red Bull future

Bach was asked on the F1 Insider YouTube channel what he had heard about Verstappen’s future in the past few days and said: “You have to put yourself in Max Verstappen’s shoes.

“Basically, he’s a loyal guy who would find it hard to leave Red Bull for another team, especially people like Helmut Marko, and so on.

“On the other hand, he obviously has to think about what the technical aspects are. What will the competition look like next year, and in the future?

“He is now in a bit of an emotional bind, because he already knows that Horner was fired because of him and his camp.

“[Oliver] Mintzlaff and co. ended up throwing him out because they were too afraid that if he stayed, Max would definitely leave. That’s how it is. he knows that the probability is a little higher, but not 100%.

“I think by the time of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Max will have a better idea.

“Suddenly, I think Aston Martin is still a little bit in the back of his mind. It’s all about where he can win races next year and where he can win the world championship.

“Can he do that with Red Bull? Will Laurent Mekies, Christian Horner’s successor, be the right man to get Red Bull back on the winning track?

“Honda are going to Aston Martin. He knows the Honda people and he trusts them a lot.

“I’ve heard now that Honda is going its own way when it comes to battery technology for next year. So, Ferrari is gone, and Mercedes is on the same level.

“Honda is trying something different. No idea, if that’s better or bad, it’s just different.

“One thing is clear: Red Bull only calms down once Max makes an announcement. Either he leaves the team or he stays. Otherwise, the speculation continues.”

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Adrian Newey studying McLaren success ahead of 2026 Formula 1 season

McLaren are the strongest team in Formula 1 right now, but Zak Brown’s previous efforts to sound out Verstappen fell on deaf ears after calling the Dutchman’s representatives, via The Mirror.

However, Verstappen needs to assess his best option for 2026 and beyond with next year’s rule changes in mind.

Adrian Newey could play a key role in convincing Verstappen to make the switch to Aston Martin.

Newey and Verstappen worked brilliantly together at Red Bull, and the allure of Honda power units might also be tempting to the Dutchman.

At the British Grand Prix, Newey was spotted studying McLaren’s cars on the grid, as he looked for inspiration for next year’s car.

If he can figure out what’s making Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri so fast, it might be hard for Verstappen to turn that opportunity down.