Aston Martin make Verstappen stance clear after Newey capture

Aston Martin boss Mike Krack says "the door is always open" for Max Verstappen to join the team after Adrian Newey's signing.

Newey was unveiled as managing technical partner of the Silverstone-based team ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and will start on April 1st 2025 after stepping down as Red Bull chief technical officer. 

Newey, who is also to become a shareholder in the team, is the biggest name lured to Aston, with owner Lawrence Stroll also interested in signing Verstappen to drive for the team, who will use works Honda power units from the 2026 season.

A Newey-designed Honda-powered machine has been the bedrock of Verstappen's success in F1, with his three titles and 56 of his 61 wins to date coming since Honda joined Red Bull in 2019.

Although he has a contract until 2028, Verstappen's long-term future at Red Bull remains doubtful given its alarming slump in form, Newey's departure and the ongoing tensions behind the scenes. 

It's an opening Krack would be keen to take. 

"The door for Max Verstappen is always open, for everything," Krack told media including RacingNews365.

"When you manage to appoint Adrian Newey, first of all, it is proof that the project is credible, that the whole vision of Lawrence is not just words, but it is real action that we can take confidence from as a team.

"This is not an underdog team like it used to be in the past, it is a team that should be confident it can do it, but also you now have a completely different approach with partners and drivers. 

"[Signing Newey] opens a lot of doors for the future."

Aston Martin appeal

Krack went onto say that he felt Newey's arrival would make the team an appealing prospect to any junior engineers - but also across the whole team.

"We will be more attractive in every area, just because of signing [Newey]," he said.

"Due to the increased credibility as it proves the project can really achieve the targets and if I was in university and would see this signing, I would say: 'I can probably learn most there, so let's try to get there'. 

"So I think there will be that effect."