Adrian Newey has dismissed talk of Max Verstappen switching to Aston Martin anytime soon, saying the team first needs to prove it can deliver a fast car.
The legendary designer, who masterminded all of Verstappen's championship-winning Red Bulls between 2021 and 2024, is now leading Aston Martin's charge into the 2026 regulations.
But with his first Aston car not set to debut until then, Newey believes it's far too early to expect Verstappen to consider jumping ship.
"If we're to ever attract Max, the first thing we have to do is make a fast car," Newey said in Monaco, during his first paddock appearance with the team.
"He is clearly a phenomenal talent and a supreme competitor, but there's no point in pipe-dreaming about having him in the short term. Max takes things to a simple level, and in this particular case he will try to choose the team that he considers will have the fastest car."
While Verstappen continues to lead Red Bull's efforts in 2025, the reigning champions have encountered more challenges this year — notably in the wake of Newey's departure.
But for Verstappen, performance isn't the only factor. His strong individualism and resistance to F1's more corporate expectations are also shaping his reputation.
At Monaco, Sport1 asked former driver Nick Heidfeld whether Verstappen is becoming a kind of "rebel" in the paddock.
"Hard to say," Heidfeld replied with a smile.
"But you can tell – he doesn't go with the flow. He believes in himself and questions things.
The fact that he didn't join in with Netflix because it was too fake for him speaks volumes.
"The important thing is that he stays grounded and continues to develop, but that's exactly what he's doing."
