‘I worked at Red Bull – Max Verstappen should join Aston Martin for one clear reason’ | F1 | Sport

Max Verstappen should choose Aston Martin ahead of F1’s frontrunning teams, according to former Red Bull head of operations, Richard Hopkins. The Dutchman’s future with the Milton Keynes squad remains up in the air, despite a strong resurgence during the 2025 campaign.

Earlier this summer, at the peak of Red Bull’s slump, Verstappen was heavily linked with a move to Mercedes. However, Christian Horner was axed in July, and after a promising start to life under Laurent Mekies, the four-time world champion opted to stay put for at least another year.

This decision gives Verstappen the opportunity to assess the landscape in 2026, when the new technical regulations take effect, and make the best decision about his future. The Dutchman’s father, Jos, has already confirmed that he will go where the fastest machinery lies.

“Max will definitely be looking at options,” Hopkins told Express Sport, in association with Mr Gamble. “Ferrari is probably one. People go there for the glory and glamour, but if Ferrari were winning championships and Lewis was finishing third while Charles was fighting, that would make it a different kind of motivation – not just prestige, but joining the best team.

“Aston Martin is a different proposition. There’s still a lot of belief in Adrian Newey’s ability, not just to design amazing cars but to build amazing teams around him. That’s what Adrian does — he builds cultures of belief. I wouldn’t have done what I did at Red Bull without Adrian. He was instrumental in me going there.

“We shared the same philosophy: take risks, do things differently, create a point of difference. Adrian’s getting older, but unlike a driver, you don’t lose that skill. If you asked him whether he’s happy with his current driver lineup, he’d probably say no.

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express F1 newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here.

“He’s got a guy in his forties and the son of a billionaire who has the odd moment but mostly doesn’t. Would he love a Max Verstappen in there, alongside someone young and exciting? Absolutely.

“To have Verstappen at Aston, with Adrian building that technical team around him – and Adrian attracts the best people, because everyone wants to work with him – success wouldn’t be guaranteed, but you wouldn’t bet against it. Max is smart enough to see that.”

Hopkins went on to add: “If Adrian’s influencing this year’s Aston and fully focused on next year’s car under the new regs – well, nobody has aced regulation changes over the past 30 years like Adrian Newey. If they can produce a half-decent car next year, and they’re punching above their weight, Max will want a bit of that. Absolutely.”