Max Verstappen could be about to completely shake up Formula One with it reported the four-time world champion is close to joining a new team in a £1billion deal
Max Verstappen is reportedly wanted by Aston Martin who have made a promise to investors about the four-time Formula One world champion.
The reigning champion has dominated F1 in recent years with Red Bull. However, Verstappen’s future within the sport has been speculated and it appears that Aston Martin are ready to make a serious effort to sign the Dutchman.
The Daily Mail reported that a close ally of Aston Martin’s billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll, Jefferson Slack, has recently told investors that Verstappen will be joining the team. A deal is said to be worth up to £1billion and almost certainly include equity in the Silverstone-based team.
A source with knowledge of the situation reportedly said of Slack: “Jefferson, or Jeff as others know him, has been going around saying that Max is going to be joining Aston Martin. It may be a ploy, adding extra value to the deal he wants to do, but bringing Max in also makes perfect sense.
“They have signed Adrian Newey on £20million-a-year as the greatest car designer of all time, and Lawrence won’t let that be the extent of it. He has said he wants to win the world title, and he won’t let anything stand in his way. He wants to end the dominant era headed by Christian Horner (at Red Bull) and Toto Wolff (at Mercedes).
“Adrian is believed to think that Lance Stroll (son of owner Lawrence) is not a good enough driver. And that Fernando Alonso, being 43, is too old.
“Adrian is determined to make a success of himself yet again and wants to work with the best. They gave Adrian a shareholding to get him over from Red Bull and they could conceivably do the same with Max.”
Aston Martin have been in casual contact with Verstappen’s entourage, but it’s said to mostly concern their endurance racing programme. It’s added that Max is likely to keep an open mind with how the Red Bull-built Ford-backed engine fares under the new regulations that come into effect next year.
Verstappen has previously stated his desire to conclude his illustrious career with Red Bull and is under contract until 2028. But his future still remains a source of discussion, with Mercedes previously heavily linked with a sensational move to make Verstappen Lewis Hamilton’s replacement after the Brit joined Ferrari.
The Dutchman’s current deal sees him earn £50m a year, with only Hamilton’s new terms at Ferrari matching that figure, and potentially exceeding it when bonuses are achieved. Convincing Verstappen to leave Red Bull is said to potentially take a £200m a year offer.