Max Verstappen is a target for Aston Martin in 2026 (Image: Getty)
will be heavily considering the reported £1billion offer from , according to former F1 star Johnny Herbert. The Brit believes that ’s star driver is ‘no fool’ and could be tempted to swap Milton Keynes for Silverstone, should Lawrence Stroll’s organisation show signs that they could fight for World Championships in the new regulation period in 2026.
Verstappen is contracted with until the end of the 2028 campaign. However, his deal is reported to contain exit clauses that would allow the 27-year-old to explore other options if ’s team cannot provide him with machinery capable of adding a fifth Drivers’ Championship title to his collection this year.
Aston Martin’s interest was reported late last season. The British constructor has already poached Dan Fallows and Adrian Newey from , and has signed an exclusive power unit partnership with Honda, commencing in 2026.
“It makes total sense,” Herbert told . “Max is no fool. Max is going to be wanting to place himself in the best place that will give him that chance of winning races in a world championship.
“If all those elements aren’t working where he is at the present time, as I’ve heard on the Ford front, and an opportunity came at Aston Martin, I would be shocked if Max wouldn’t bite and go for it. Because he knows very well that potentially, with Adrian and with the Honda, that Aston Martin will be the place to be.
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Johnny Herbert believes Verstappen will suit life at Aston Martin (Image: Getty)
“Would you give up the place to be just to stay at something that’s been good to you over the last couple of years? Racing drivers don’t work like that. Max doesn’t work like that. Max is there to win. And as he said over this year, you know, it’s all about winning. That’s exactly what he wants to do.
“Christian has said Max is not going anywhere. I know he’s got the contract until 2028, but again, contracts don’t mean anything if performance is not there. Champions who I’ve known have always had a performance clause.”
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If Aston Martin are to have any chance of snapping up Verstappen, they will need to make short-term improvements. Team Silverstone ended the 2024 campaign battling Williams and Sauber at the bottom end of the grid, leaving Fernando Alonso and frustrated.
While Monday was Newey’s first day on the job, the legendary aerodynamicist’s efforts will largely be concentrated on the 2026 regulations. Work on the 2025 car is almost complete, and as Alonso confirmed during pre-season, the AMR25 is an evolution of its predecessor rather than a revolution.