15/10/2025 06:30
Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell has highlighted his squad
is flattered by the interest shown in the team by Max Verstappen.
Verstappen's future was a hot topic for much of the year before the
Dutchman confirmed he would remain put at Red Bull next year.
Verstappen has a contract with the team that runs through 2028, but
Red Bull's position in the pecking order earlier this season placed
the deal in doubt amid talk of an exit clause related to
performance. Aston Martin was labelled as a potential option for
Verstappen, with Adrian Newey, the mastermind behind his four F1
titles, now heading the squad's technical department. Verstappen
has highlighted that he is following Aston Martin's project with
interest. Reacting to the words from Verstappen, Cowell told
Motorsport.com: " At some point, the whole paddock sees that there
is an ambition to develop ourselves from a team that has been about
survival for a long time to a team that is here to win. "That Max
showed media interest - although I don't know exactly what the
right word is - that is flattering. "He sees that our team is
determined and that the team is making the right moves." Mercedes
showed interest in poaching Verstappen from Red Bull, with team
boss Toto Wolff stating teams would do "handstands" to sign the
four-time champion. "I'm not good at doing a handstand, even in
the pool I still struggle with that," Cowell quipped. Aston Martin
is set to field an unchanged line-up next year with Fernando Alonso
and Lance Stroll for a fourth consecutive season.
