Adrian Newey: Aston Martin can only attract Max…

Aston Martin's tech guru Adrian Newey believes the best way the Formula 1 squad can attract Max Verstappen in the future is by simply building the best car.

Newey started his role of Managing Technical partner on 3 April, forming part of a superteam Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll is building in a brand-new Silverstone headquarters. Newey joins CEO Andy Cowell and former Ferrari tech chief Enrico Cardile, while the team has attracted Honda as its 2026 engine partner.

While Aston Martin is trying to get everything in place on and off the track for a title bid under F1's new regulations, rumours have also connected world champion Max Verstappen with the team, including left-field reports of a $1b offer from Stroll for the Dutchman's services.

It is a public secret that Verstappen has exit clauses in his Red Bull contract that could see him leave before the end of his current 2028 deal if he is not fighting for the world championship, although Red Bull's improving form has appeared to make it more likely that the four-time world champion will at least stay for 2026.

Speaking to select media at the Monaco Grand Prix, including Autosport, Newey was inevitably asked about his thoughts on securing Verstappen's services - but thinks Aston Martin will only become attractive to the reigning world champion by being competitive on track.

"Max is clearly a phenomenal talent, and he's a supreme competitor, and part of that means that Max likes to break things down to a simple common equation, if you like," Newey said.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing (Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool)

"In this particular case, that's choosing a team that he believes will deliver the fastest car. So, if we're to ever attract Max, the first thing we have to do is make a fast car. There's no point in pipe-dreaming about anything else from now."

In the same breath, Newey said it was a long-term goal to be working together with double F1 champion Fernando Alonso, and also felt Lance Stroll was underrated.

"Fernando, he's such a cool character," Newey said. "He's been an enemy for many years along with Lewis [Hamilton], and I think I've said before that you can only work with so many drivers, but two drivers I always felt I would enjoy working with were Lewis and Fernando. I couldn't work with both, so at least I've got one of them.

"Lance, I think, has an unfairly bad driver rap. When you compare him against team-mates he's been up against, Checo [Perez] and Nico Hulkenberg and Sebastian [Vettel], and now Fernando, then he's been right there.

"Any driver who gets to Formula 1 is clearly very good, but I think Lance is much better than people give him credit for."