Rumours swirl around Max Verstappen’s potential move to Aston Martin, as the Silverstone team assembles a star-studded line-up and tempts the champion with an unprecedented $1bn deal

Could Max Verstappen trade Red Bull’s iconic blue and yellow for Aston Martin’s racing green? Speculation surrounding the four-time Formula 1 world champion’s future has intensified amid rumours that Aston Martin is wooing Verstappen with a staggering $1bn package.

The whispers gained traction after sources suggested Aston Martin has hinted at Verstappen’s potential arrival in discussions with prospective sponsors. Although both the team and Verstappen deny these claims, insiders note Aston Martin’s rapid rise and galacticos strategy make the prospect hard to ignore.

Since rebranding in 2021 under billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin has been unrelenting in its ambition. The team has fielded only world champions—first Sebastian Vettel, then Fernando Alonso—and bolstered its ranks with top engineering talent. This includes Adrian Newey, F1’s legendary designer, and Andy Cowell, who masterminded Mercedes’ dominant hybrid era. A partnership with Honda from 2026 further cements Aston Martin’s status as a formidable force.

With a new state-of-the-art factory and wind tunnel set to revolutionise its operations, Aston Martin is poised to challenge the F1 elite. Former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has acknowledged the allure, stating, “Wherever Newey has gone, there’s been an upward trend. I don’t see why it should be any different at Aston Martin.”

For Verstappen, whose 63 Grand Prix wins and four titles have been achieved with Honda engines and Newey-designed Red Bull cars, Aston Martin could feel less like a gamble and more like a reunion. The financial incentives only sweeten the deal, with reports of a contract including hefty win bonuses and potential equity that could make Verstappen the sport’s first $1bn driver.

While Verstappen remains contracted to Red Bull until 2028, he has left the door ajar. Last year, he praised Aston Martin’s progress, saying, “Lawrence [Stroll] is pushing flat out for success, and I hope for them that it can be a success.”

The Dutchman’s move would mirror Aston Martin’s vision of becoming the “Real Madrid of F1,” with its star-studded roster reminiscent of the football team’s early-2000s galacticos. Verstappen’s addition would signal not just ambition but an intent to dominate the sport.

As the 2026 season approaches, the F1 grid awaits confirmation: will Verstappen be the next superstar to join Aston Martin’s ranks?