All eyes are on Aston Martin this weekend, following the news that Adrian Newey is joining the team. Newey’s arrival is not just significant for Aston Martin’s performance, but also their ability to attract drivers in the market. According to Helmut Marko, signing the 65-year-old engineer could make Aston an attractive destination to Max Verstappen.
Marko reveals impact of Aston Martin’s Newey signing
Considering Aston Martin’s underwhelming result this season, the announcement of Adrian Newey’s arrival is a huge morale boost.
The Silverstone-based team are unlikely to make a huge step forward this year or next, but they have all the ingredients to succeed in 2026.
With Red Bull experiencing turbulence both on and off track, there have been growing whispers about Max Verstappen’s dissatisfaction with the team. Although the Dutchman’s contract does not expire until 2028, there are suggestions he could leave Red Bull before then.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Baku GP, senior advisor Helmut Marko believes Aston Martin could be a viable destination for Verstappen:
“Max drives where he can win. Aston Martin has the most modern factory,” he told Kleine Zeitung.
“The wind tunnel will be operational next year and Honda engines will be added to that.
“Everything fits. And if you look at history, it is clear – wherever Newey has gone, there has been an upward trend.
“I don’t know why it should be any different at Aston Martin.
“He [Verstappen] knows that he can win titles with us, too, if we can get through this world championship now. That is also an absolute must.
“Adrian Newey cannot start until March 1, 2025, which is already relatively late. The whole team at Aston Martin certainly needs to get used to each other first.”
Of course, these comments must be taken with a pinch of salt. Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have multi-year contracts with Aston Martin and will remain with the team until at least the end of 2026.
Still, there is no denying that Lawrence Stroll’s project is increasingly attractive. Should Aston deliver on the ever-rising expectations on them, they could be central in the driver market over the coming years.
Whether Max Verstappen joins the team, however, is another question entirely.
