Aston Martin’s bold ambitions spark Verstappen rumours that Mario Andretti comments fuel discussions over Verstappen’s future – Formula 1 continues to be abuzz with intrigue as rumours continue to swirl around Max Verstappen’s potential move to Aston Martin.
billion-pound bombshell,;Mario Andretti confirms Aston Martin / Verstappen
The Dutchman, who has won four world championships with Red Bull Racing, has found himself at the centre of speculation with reports suggesting a £1 billion recruitment attempt by the British team. Adding fuel to the fire is none other than 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti, who has stated his belief that Aston Martin are actively pursuing Verstappen.
Daily Mail’s billion-pound bombshell
The first spark of this rumour was lit last week when the Daily Mail reported that Aston Martin had approached a number of sponsors in the hope of securing financial backing for an unprecedented deal to lure Verstappen away from Red Bull.
The deal, reportedly worth up to £1 billion, would make Verstappen the highest paid driver in F1 history.
Despite the headline-grabbing figure, an Aston Martin spokesman was quick to deny any such approach, telling Crash.net that the team “categorically deny” the rumours. However, the denials have done little to quell the speculation as whispers about Verstappen’s future grow louder.
The Mercedes factor
While Aston Martin have grabbed the headlines for their reported interest, it’s worth noting that Mercedes have also publicly expressed their admiration for Verstappen.
The reigning Constructors’ Champions are believed to be considering a future with the Dutch star as part of their long-term strategy.
This tug-of-war over Verstappen underlines his unrivalled status in the sport and the seismic shift his potential move would cause in the paddock.
Mario Andretti adds credibility
In a recent interview with Dutch website F1Maximaal, Mario Andretti lent credence to the rumours surrounding Aston Martin’s pursuit of Verstappen.
“I know for a fact that they would like to have Verstappen,” said Andretti confidently.
He went on to explain the reasoning behind such a bold move: “Let’s be honest, if you surround yourself with people who have proven themselves and shown that they are the best, then you are almost guaranteed to get results. Who wouldn’t want Adrian Newey and Max Verstappen in their team? I’d give my right arm to have them in my team, so I understand Aston Martin.”
At the heart of Aston Martin’s reported recruitment strategy is Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer and one of the most revered car designers in F1 history.
Andretti spoke highly of Newey, crediting him with much of Red Bull’s success.
“If I could choose anyone to work with, it would be Adrian Newey. He’s the best I’ve ever worked with and we’ve achieved results together. He understands the needs of a driver like no one else,” said Andretti.
This admiration for Newey underlines Aston Martin’s wider strategy of not only securing Verstappen, but potentially reuniting him with the man who played a key ro
