Formula 1 team owner could drop his own son to sign Max Verstappen

As a lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast who has witnessed the highs and lows of this thrilling sport, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and curiosity upon hearing the rumors surrounding Aston Martin’s ambitious plans for the future. The prospect of legendary engineer Adrian Newey joining forces with three-time world champion Max Verstappen is certainly tantalizing, and if reports are to be believed, it seems that Lawrence Stroll is not content to stop there.

Last month, the news broke out that Lawrence Stroll, owner of Aston Martin team, was interested in hiring Adrian Newey for the 2025 Formula 1 season. It was further speculated that Stroll might not limit his ambitions to just Newey and could also aim to recruit three-time consecutive world champion Max Verstappen.

Adrian Newey joined Red Bull in 2006 and recently announced he’ll be parting ways with the team at the end of 2024, marking 19 years with them. Max Verstappen is tied to Red Bull until the 2028 season, though rumors suggest his contract may contain a provision for early termination if key team members decide to leave.

According to trusted Italian automobile magazine Autosprint, it’s rumored that Stroll is actively trying to recruit Newey, a highly influential figure in the industry, who was previously speculated to join Ferrari but instead seems to be moving towards Aston Martin.

In a surprising twist, Verstappen might be switching teams to Aston Martin, a brand that was previously the title sponsor for Red Bull from 2018 to 2020. Coincidentally, this move would keep him connected with Honda, as they are set to replace Mercedes as Aston Martin’s engine supplier in 2026, marking a new era of Formula 1 regulations. Meanwhile, Red Bull is preparing for a shift from Honda to Ford engines.

Stroll aspires to place Aston Martin at the pinnacle of Formula 1 and competing for victories when this new phase commences, and acquiring a six-time Grand Prix champion could significantly contribute to this goal. However, the question arises about which driver’s seat he would occupy, considering both current Aston Martin drivers are bound by contracts that extend up until 2026.

For the next two years, two-time world champions Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have agreed to continue racing from their current positions.

Although Alonso is currently 43 years old and will turn 45 during the 2026 season, there are rumors that the team owner’s son is under pressure in this situation.

Lance Stroll on the hot seat at Aston Martin

It’s increasingly thought that discussions between the older Stroll and Verstappen have begun, and if successful, Verstappen’s agreement could lead to Lance being reassigned to the Aston Martin’s World Endurance Racing series.

Throughout his Formula 1 career spanning eight seasons, Lance has been perceived as a driver who received significant financial support from his family. This is due to the fact that his father purchased him a seat at Williams for around $80 million and later acquired the entire Racing Point team, which was subsequently rebranded as Aston Martin.

Despite his accomplishments often being overlooked due to this same factor, Alonso has consistently outperformed him, making it an immense understatement to describe Verstappen as a mere improvement over the 25-year-old Canadian in Formula One racing.

It’s possible Alonso might consider retiring again before 2026, but considering his recent contract renewal, his decision to not fill Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes, Aston Martin’s significant investments in their Formula 1 facilities with the goal of reaching the top, and especially the arrival of Newey, it seems unlikely.

Furthermore, should he decide to retire at this point, there would be no room for another return. Indeed, the professional football career of even ardent Aston Martin fan Tom Brady had a definite conclusion.

Without a doubt, the claims about Stroll chasing Verstappen cannot be disregarded. The source is trustworthy, and given that upcoming changes in regulations within the next two years could warrant a partnership like Newey-Verstappen, it aligns with Stroll’s pattern of actions since assuming control over the team.

2021 saw the signing of four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Remarkably, he then made another surprising decision by recruiting yet another multiple F1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso, to fill a vacant position.

The move to sign Verstappen, whose dissatisfaction with the situation at the Milton Keynes team has grown more apparent, continues the pattern of recruiting a driver recognized among Formula 1’s legends.

One trend that could potentially be discontinued is the practice of recruiting drivers to partner with his own son. Instead, it might be necessary for Lance to step aside to create space. If this occurs, then Formula 1 fans may finally have confirmation that Lawrence Sheldon Strulovic is genuinely committed to creating a team capable of challenging for the world championship.

2024-09-15 13:32