Marko responds to Aston’s ‘door always open for Verstappen' remark

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has addressed the speculation about Max Verstappen’s future with the Milton Keynes-based outfit following Aston Martin proclaiming that its “door is open” to the three-time world champion.

On Thursday, just days after Aston Martin confirmed that Adrian Newey would be joining the outfit in March 2025, team principal Mike Krack suggested that the legendary F1 designer’s presence might entice Verstappen to take a keen interest in Team Silverstone.

Team owner Lawrence Stroll is sparing no effort to build a championship winning contender, having invested heavily in state-of-the-art infrastructure and assembling a high-profile technical group at the helm of which will be Newey.

Verstappen is theoretically contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but it is believed that specific clauses could allow the Dutchman to leave before this term.

The 61-time Grand Prix himself admitted in Baku that a move to Aston Martin is something “I might think about in the future”.

Read also:

• Krack: Aston Martin door ‘always open’ to Verstappen

Marko offered both insight and caution regarding Verstappen’s future.

“Max drives where he can win,” he told Kleine Zeitung.

“Aston Martin has the most modern factory, the wind tunnel will be operational next year and Honda engines will be added to that. Everything fits.”

Marko conceded that Newey’s track record speaks for itself.

“If you look at history, it is clear: wherever Newey has gone, there has been an upward trend. I don’t know why it should be any different at Aston Martin.”

However, Marko was quick to temper any notions of Verstappen leaving Red Bull in the immediate future.

“He knows that he can win titles with us too if we can get through this world championship now,” he added. “That is also an absolute must.”

Currently holding a commanding 62-point lead over McLaren's Lando Norris in the championship standings, Verstappen remains in control despite the challenges facing Red Bull regarding its troubled RB20 car.

While McLaren has shown superior pace in recent races, Verstappen and Red Bull remain favorites for the 2024 title.

Looking ahead, Marko acknowledged that Aston Martin, despite its recent advancements, still faces significant challenges.

"Adrian Newey cannot start until March 1, 2025, which is already relatively late," the Austrian noted. "The whole team at Aston Martin certainly needs to get used to each other first."

As speculation grows about Verstappen's post-2026 plans, Marko’s comments make it clear that while Aston Martin is building a formidable team, Red Bull is equally determined to maintain its winning ways—and keep its star driver firmly in its corner.

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