Aston Martin given clear Max Verstappen verdict after £225m contract offer

Aston Martin are right to go all out in their attempts to prise away from , according to . The British team have ambitions to become a major player in and are rumoured to be for Verstappen.

billionaire majority owner Lawrence Stroll has the backing of Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco, the title sponsor of the team, and wants to make a splash by chasing Verstappen. They are reportedly ready to convince him to quit Red Bull for a three-year deal.

Red Bull team principal has insisted that and that Verstappen will still be racing for Red Bull in 2026. But with Adrian Newey now in place at Aston Martin after a long period of leave, the rumour appears to have legs.

"It's very interesting if the Saudis get involved with Aston Martin,” Herbert . “If you had the money, you would pay all you have to get Max Verstappen on your team.

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"He's still, by far, the best driver on the grid at the moment. He's still out-qualifying the McLaren, which is just a little faster.

"If Aston Martin gets their development right for next year, you could see them become the next team to beat. But, they have a big hill to climb. If you have Verstappen and Adrian Newey at the top of their games, then it will be hard to beat them, but that isn’t a guarantee.

"Verstappen will be thinking where is the best place for him, and when can he leave. Helmut Marko alluded to a get-out clause, which could come into effect this season, it would be perfect timing for Verstappen.

"I hope he chooses the right team so he can keep battling at the very top for the foreseeable future. We want him and the likes of Oscar Piastri to really fight for the title, which can only be good for the sport.

"Lawrence Stroll is a shrewd businessman, and he's moving Aston Martin towards being a winning team. If he's getting closer with Saudi Arabia and has the best driver, we could see that plan come to fruition.”

Aston Martin are focusing on 2026 and beyond, with Newey already working on their car of the future. Signing Verstappen to drive it would be a major statement of intent – and the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) increasing their stake in the team from one fifth would help them achieve it.

Horner has given the rumours short shrift. He said: "There's been a lot of noise outside of the team,” he said. “Max reaffirmed his commitment yesterday. We are focused on making the car go faster. Max is a part of that, he's a committed member of the team. The rest is all speculation."