Aston Martin not on Max Verstappen's wish list as Mercedes continues to garner interest from the Dutch driver: Reports

Max Verstappen reportedly has no interest in Aston Martin amid the British team's rumored desire for the Dutch driver. A recent report by F1insider.com suggests that Lawrence Stroll's team has failed to come into Verstappen's wish list, as Mercedes continued to prove to be an option for the three-time world champion for 2026.

Aston Martin allegedly launched a bid to bring Verstappen to Silverstone in 2026. This came amid reports of their efforts to rope in Adrian Newey, F1's most successful engineer.

However, the British team's trajectory has not looked convincing for the defending champion as he has reportedly pushed them aside in favor of their Brackley neighbor, Mercedes. As per the reports, Toto Wolff's team has a bright future ahead, thanks to their expertise in the powertrain division.

Mercedes is renowned for their engine department, which has reigned supreme in the post-hybrid era. Experts believe that the engineers at Brackley can bring their good old days back once the new regulations commence in 2026.

Notably, Aston Martin, too, has a war with them when it comes to powertrains, Honda, the Japanese giants who helped Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominate for three seasons in a row, will switch their loyalty to Lawrence Stroll's team in 2026.

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Former F1 team boss justifies Max Verstappen's interest in Mercedes

Eddie Jordan, a former F1 team boss, recently opened up about Max Verstappen's reported interest in Mercedes. Since Lewis Hamilton's decision to leave the Silver Arrows for Ferrari, the Dutchman has constantly been linked with a move to Toto Wolff's team.

Max Verstappen at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

On top of that, Red Bull's current condition also added fuel to the fire, as Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley announced their exit in quick succession. This has come amid Mercedes' remarkable turnaround in recent races. Jordan said as per the aforementioned report:

"The unrest at Red Bull, the departures of Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, cannot please Max and his father (former racer Jos Verstappen). In addition, Mercedes has turned the corner and is getting stronger and stronger. I would therefore be anything but surprised if Max moves to Mercedes in 2026."

Red Bull director Helmut Marko has cemented Verstappen's stay at Red Bull until the 2026 F1 season as per the Dutchman's contract with the Austrian team.