Max Verstappen addresses Aston Martin's 'open door' comments from team boss ahead of F1 Azerbaijan GP

Max Verstappen did not rule out a potential move to Aston Martin in the future while responding to comments made by Mike Krack. Speaking to onsite media, the Red Bull Racing driver emphasized that his current focus is on the ongoing championship.

Krack had mentioned to media in Azerbaijan that the door is open for Max Verstappen to join Aston Martin, sparking further speculation about a future move. In August, Reports from Italian media suggested negotiations between Verstappen’s management and Aston Martin were already in progress. With Adrian Newey joining the team and Honda set to become its engine supplier in 2026, Aston Martin has become an increasingly attractive prospect.

When asked about Krack’s remarks, Max Verstappen sidestepped a direct answer, instead highlighting the need to focus on Red Bull’s performance issues. He expressed his happiness for Newey’s new role at Aston Martin but remained cautious about commenting on his future, leaving room for further speculation.

Asked about the possibility of a move to Aston Martin following Krack’s comments, Max Verstappen said:

“I have other worries at the moment, that I’m paying a lot of attention to, that I’m working on. So that is something maybe for the future that I think about but not now. I have other worries at the moment that I am busy with, and I try to fix and work on them with the team that I’m driving with – that’s where our focus goes. Adrian and I – we have a very good understanding. I sent him a message also after the news came out, even though, of course, I knew that it was coming.”

When asked if Newey’s move to Aston Martin made the team an attractive prospect, Max Verstappen added:

“I don’t know, I mean, I’ve worked with him so I know how he is as a person, and also what he can do. I think everyone would like to work with Adrian, I guess, in their career. So yeah, potentially.”

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Max Verstappen: Adrian Newey’s departure not responsible for Red Bull problems

Max Verstappen believes that Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull is not the root cause of the team’s recent performance struggles. He suggests that many of the RB20’s issues were already present before the British aerodynamicist left. Verstappen feels that the car’s performance problems have gradually worsened over time.

A key factor behind Red Bull’s struggles is the correlation issue stemming from its outdated 1950s-era wind tunnel. The performance data from the wind tunnel has not been matching the on-track results. Red Bull’s wind tunnel is the oldest on the grid, while its rivals benefit from more modern, state-of-the-art facilities. Additionally, as the reigning champion, Red Bull has less wind tunnel time for car upgrades, giving its competitors a significant advantage with more development time.

Asked about Newey’s departure and the team's drop in performance, Max Verstappen said:

“I wouldn't say so. When it was announced, that's when it started to go a little bit wrong for us. But I think it already started to go wrong for us a long time before, but we didn't really see that at the time. So I personally don't think it's related. That is not to be negative towards Adrian or whatever, but I definitely don't see it as something that is related, but it's something that creeped in over time.”

Red Bull has introduced no major upgrades for the Azerbaijan GP, aside from a reworked floor. However, both Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen dedicated significant time in the simulator and at the factory during the break between the Italian GP and Azerbaijan to address the team’s performance issues.

Currently, Red Bull holds a narrow eight-point lead over McLaren in the constructors’ championship, while Verstappen leads Lando Norris by 62 points in the drivers’ championship. With eight rounds remaining, these margins are under serious threat of shrinking rapidly.