“GP2 Engine, GP2!” Fernando Alonso said about the Honda engine back in 2015 when he was being overtaken by the Toro Rosso of the reigning triple world champion, Max Verstappen. Ironically, Verstappen won all three of his championships with a Honda-powered car. And his latest 8-word comment on Honda ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix suggests that he might consider a move to Aston Martin if things didn’t work out with Red Bull.

With everything that’s going on internally at Red Bull and Max Verstappen openly siding with Helmut Marko instead of Christian Horner, the Dutchman’s future at the team is up for speculation. He has already been linked with teams like Mercedes and Aston Martin. The statements came after Honda had pledged their allegiance to Aston Martin for 2026 after they stop supplying engines to Red Bull by the end of 2025.

Of course, for now, Max has made it clear that he wants to continue with Red Bull. However, the Dutchman’s latest comment just might be the hint that he would lean toward the Silverstone-based outfit if push came to shove. During the driver’s press conference ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, he spoke about his first victory with Honda and how special it was for him, “I will always be a big Honda fan“.

However, this isn’t the first time he has expressed his fondness for the Honda engines. Even back in 2023, when the Japanese manufacturer made their switch to Aston Martin official, Max was left disappointed with the decision and said, “Seeing them go to Aston Martin is a bit of a shame… We had a lot of success already so of course I’ll be sad to see them go.“

During the conference, when Max was asked if he’d fancy a move to Aston Martin since that’s where Honda is going, he gave a diplomatic albeit non-negative response. “I don’t know. Doesn’t mean necessarily ‘26 or whatever, right? I mean, I have a contract with Red Bull until ‘28. After that, I first want to see if I actually even want to continue.”

And it’s not just the engine that’s going to Aston Martin. Recent reports have suggested that Lawrence Stroll is willing to write Adrian Newey a blank cheque to secure his services at Aston Martin in a bid to keep Alonso motivated. And Max has made his feelings clear about this move.

Max Verstappen hints at Christian Horner to keep Adrian Newey at Red Bull

Adrian Newey, aged 65, has been a key figure at Red Bull Racing since joining in 2006. He has contributed to the development of seven championship-winning cars, showcasing his immense talent and expertise in car design. However, with Aston Martin’s ambitious plans and financial resources, there is speculation that Newey could be tempted to take on a new challenge before retiring from Formula 1.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Verstappen emphasized Newey’s significant role within the team, describing his presence as a “massive boost” to Red Bull. Moreover, he has recently experienced the departure of key personnel from his inner circle, including chief mechanic Lee Stevenson and personal trainer Bradley Scanes. So it’s understandable that he doesn’t want to lose even more key figures from the team. “…Having someone part of the team like Adrian, I think it’s a massive boost for everyone and many people work together to achieve the car we have today,” said the world champion.

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Will Adrian Newey take up Lawrence Stroll’s offer and move on to a new phase in the twilight of his career? What are your thoughts on the matter?

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