F1 News: Does Newey think Aston Martin will be good enough for Verstappen in 2027?
Adrian Newey (pictured), the legendary Formula 1 designer whose name is synonymous with championship-winning cars, has been at the heart of speculation regarding Max Verstappen’s future since Newey’s high-profile move to Aston Martin in 2024.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
As the Silverstone-based team gears up for the 2026 season and beyond, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Aston Martin, under Newey’s technical leadership, will be competitive enough to lure the four-time world champion by 2027. Drawing on Newey’s own words and the broader context of Aston Martin’s ambitions, delve into the story.
In the gleaming new headquarters of Aston Martin’s Formula 1 team, nestled in Silverstone, Adrian Newey is a man consumed by his craft. Since joining the team in March 2025 as Managing Technical Partner, the 66-year-old design guru has been working tirelessly on the team’s 2026 car, designed to capitalize on Formula 1’s sweeping new regulations. These rules, which include radical changes to car and engine designs, represent a reset for the sport—a chance for teams like Aston Martin to challenge the established order. For Newey, who has engineered 14 drivers’ championships and 12 constructors’ titles across his storied career, this is familiar territory: a blank canvas to create something extraordinary.
Max Verstappen, the Dutch phenom who won four consecutive drivers’ championships with Red Bull from 2021 to 2024, is no stranger to Newey’s genius. The pair collaborated for eight years at Red Bull, with Newey’s designs—like the dominant RB19—propelling Verstappen to titles. But Red Bull’s dominance waned in 2025, with McLaren and Ferrari overtaking them in the constructors’ standings, and Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship slipping to third, 69 points behind Oscar Piastri. Internal turmoil at Red Bull, including the departure of key figures like Christian Horner, Rob Marshall, and Newey himself, has fueled speculation about Verstappen’s future, despite his contract running through 2028.
Aston Martin, backed by billionaire Lawrence Stroll’s ambition and a new works partnership with Honda starting in 2026, has emerged as a potential destination. Rumors of a “billion-dollar deal” to sign Verstappen have swirled, amplified by Newey’s arrival and the team’s state-of-the-art facilities. Posts on X even claim Aston Martin has been telling sponsors Verstappen is on their radar, though such talk remains unconfirmed gossip. Yet, Newey himself has been measured, almost cautious, when addressing the possibility of reuniting with his former protégé.
Speaking at the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2025, Newey laid out a clear condition for Verstappen joining Aston Martin: “Max is clearly a phenomenal talent, and he’s a supreme competitor. Part of that means that Max likes to break things down to a simple common equation, and 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 for now.”
This pragmatism reflects Newey’s understanding of Verstappen’s mindset. The Dutch driver, known for his relentless pursuit of performance, isn’t swayed by sentimentality or promises alone. As Newey told Sky Sports F1, “Max will always chase who he thinks will produce the fastest car.” For Aston Martin to be a contender for Verstappen’s signature by 2027, they must first prove they can build a car capable of fighting for championships.
Newey’s early months at Aston Martin have been a whirlwind. He’s described as diving into a “design trance,” working late nights to shape the 2026 car while teaching his new team to harness the advanced tools at their disposal. But he’s been candid about the challenges. In a conversation with F1 legend Riccardo Patrese at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Newey admitted that Aston Martin was playing catch-up. “Until March, little had been done here for 2026. A little, of course, but we’ve had a huge amount of work to do since then,” he told F1 Insider. Patrese recounted Newey saying the team “won’t be ready” to challenge for the championship in 2026, a sentiment echoed in his warning that Aston Martin isn’t yet equipped to provide Verstappen with a winning car.
This isn’t to say Newey lacks optimism. He’s praised the “individually very good people” at Aston Martin and believes better organization could unlock their potential. The team’s partnership with Honda, which powered Verstappen’s championships at Red Bull, is a significant advantage, with some in the paddock—like Toto Wolff—tipping Honda’s engines to make Aston Martin a “major threat” in 2026. Newey’s track record also inspires confidence: his cars have won titles at Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull, and Aston Martin’s resources give him a platform to work his magic again.
But 2026 is a stepping stone, and 2027 is where the Verstappen question comes into sharper focus. Aston Martin’s current drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, are contracted through 2026. Alonso, at 44, has hinted that 2026 might be his final season, though he’s open to continuing if the team is competitive. Stroll, the son of team owner Lawrence, has a secure seat but faces scrutiny over his performance compared to top-tier drivers. A potential opening for Verstappen could emerge in 2027, especially if Alonso retires and Aston Martin’s car proves its worth.
Verstappen, for his part, is keeping his options open. He’s expressed excitement about tracking Aston Martin’s progress under Newey, telling Motorsport Week, “I’m sure that he will contribute to their success. I’m excited to see what they can do next year when I think he’s finally fully involved.” Yet, he’s also signaled loyalty to Red Bull for 2026, wanting to assess their new Ford-powered car before deciding his future. Performance clauses in his contract could allow an early exit if Red Bull falters.
The road to 2027 is fraught with uncertainties. Aston Martin’s current seventh-place standing in the 2025 constructors’ championship highlights the gap they must close. Newey’s focus on 2026 means the team’s 2025 car, the AMR25, has been largely overlooked, leaving drivers Alonso and Stroll to grapple with an uncompetitive machine. For Verstappen to consider Aston Martin by 2027, Newey must deliver a car that outperforms Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren—a tall order, even for a designer of his caliber.
In the paddock, opinions vary. Some, like Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle, see Aston Martin as a logical fit for Verstappen, given Newey’s presence and Honda’s engines. Others, like Patrese, relay Newey’s caution that 2026 might be too soon for title contention. The rumor mill, amplified by posts on X, keeps the speculation alive, with unverified claims of Aston Martin pitching Verstappen to sponsors.
For now, Newey’s stance is clear: Aston Martin’s path to Verstappen runs through performance. “I’ve got absolutely no idea” when asked about the timeline for a competitive car, he admitted in Monaco, but his focus remains unwavering. As 2026 approaches, the F1 world watches closely. If Newey can transform Aston Martin into a front-runner, the lure of a fast car—and a reunion with a trusted ally—might just tempt Verstappen to don the green overalls by 2027. Until then, it’s a waiting game, with Newey’s designs and Verstappen’s decisions poised to shape the sport’s future.