Max Verstappen heads into the upcoming campaign as a four-time world champion and will hope he can match Michael Schumacher’s record of winning five titles on the bounce.
For him to achieve that remarkable feat, he’ll need Red Bull to take a step forward over the winter having been left behind Ferrari and McLaren.
There’s also the upcoming 2026 rule changes to take into account and how each team splits their development budgets over the next 12 months will have a huge impact on their short-term and long-term success.
If Verstappen isn’t confident that Red Bull will give him a potentially championship-winning car beyond this year, then he may decide he needs to leave.
Verstappen’s Red Bull contract runs until the end of 2028, but already Mercedes and Aston Martin have shown an interest in signing the Dutchman.
Aston Martin reportedly made a £1bn offer to the Dutchman, as per the Daily Mail, and while it’s unknown just how accurate that is, Lawrence Stroll is willing to do whatever it takes to sign Verstappen.
Peter Windsor was asked on Cameron CC’s YouTube channel whether he would take that offer if he was in Verstappen’s position and while he doesn’t think money is the four-time world champion’s motivator, he does suggest one scenario that could change his mind.
Windsor was talking about the reported £1bn offer made to Verstappen by Aston Martin and was asked what he would do in the Dutchman’s position and said:
“I wouldn’t no [take the offer], because I’ve enjoyed my racing and I know what I need around to go well and to drive well and I like the atmosphere I create around myself and I wouldn’t want to go to a team where quite obviously it’s a very difficult, stressful atmosphere as per a lot of the people who have been there and left.
“So, no I wouldn’t. I’d like to think Max is mature enough now and he’s got enough money now to say it’s not about money, it’s about enjoying my life and getting on with my racing and that’s when I drive at my best and I’m not driving just for the money.
“I’d like to think that Max would think if that guy wants to pay me that much money then there’s something wrong if he needs to do that.”
Windsor then continued and explained what might change Verstappen’s mind: “If Adrian Newey was saying to Max, ‘Look, Max, I love it here, I’m going to be in it for the next 10 years, I can tell you now, we’re going to win a lot of races. If you want to join, we’re going to win a lot of races, a lot of championships, let’s go.’
“If I was Max, I’d probably do it. But the first question was would I do it for the billion dollars [pounds] to work for Lawrence Stroll, two different things.
“And also don’t forget, if you took the first one, the one billion under Lawrence Stroll, there’s no guarantee Adrian’s going to be there for the next decade, he’s not getting any younger.
“He’d do it for the Jonathan Wheatley, Adrian Newey reason, not that Jonathan’s there of course, not the money, that’s the point I’m making.”
Adrian Newey doesn’t start work at Aston Martin until the beginning of March and is unlikely to have a major impact on their 2025 car.
However, he’ll be tasked with tackling the new regulations being introduced next year and if he continues to nail each new ruleset as he has throughout his career, then Verstappen may find it difficult to turn down an approach from Aston Martin.
Many people in the F1 paddock are backing Aston Martin to succeed in 2026, and Verstappen has made it clear in the past he doesn’t plan to race in the sport for decades.
It means if he thinks Aston Martin is his best bet to continue his winning streak, he may not hesitate to make the switch if Newey comes calling.
