At the beginning of this year, a wild rumor about Max Verstappen caused a stir: Aston Martin was said to have tried to lure the world champion to Silverstone with an offer worth billions. The 28-year-old Dutchman’s supposed interest even caused a grin among the British.
“The fact that Max is showing interest in the media – I don’t know how to put it exactly, but that Max is showing interest in the media is flattering,” says CEO and team boss Andy Cowell to “Motorsport.com”, a sister platform of “Motorsport-Total.com” in the “Motorsport Network”.
“He sees in his eyes that this is a team that is determined and is taking the right steps,” believes the Brit and is convinced that Aston Martin is on the right path. “Since Lawrence took over the team, his words have been backed up by actions.”
Aston Martin wants to be “a natural choice”.
“When you see the campus, the investments that are being made there, when you see how he recruits people like Adrian [Newey] proceeds – he is determined. And in that moment the entire paddock can see that this is a team going from survival to a team that wants to win.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff once said that any team boss in Formula 1 would “do a handstand” to sign Verstappen. “I’m not very good at handstands! I even have a hard time in the pool,” laughs Cowell.
Aston Martins’ main goal right now is to build a car that is so competitive that it becomes a natural choice for all of the top drivers in Formula 1. “We’re really lucky to have Lance [Stroll] and Fernando [Alonso] who have great experience, at least until the end of 2026.”
Will Alonso still drive for Aston Martin in 2027?
“That means we have drivers with whom we can talk openly about next year,” says the team boss. “When I talk to Adrian and all the engineers, we want to develop a really fast racing car. And then we want every driver with a super license to want to drive our car.”
Although Aston Martin drivers are not under discussion for next season, the driver market could become an issue again with a view to 2027. Alonso recently announced that 2026 could be his final Formula 1 season if the new car is good enough to end his career on a high.
If Aston Martin’s 2026 car is not competitive, the Spaniard also hinted that he could potentially drive longer. “I haven’t had any conversations with him about it,” Cowell reveals. “His conversations with me last year were all about 2026.”
“I think Fernando is already thinking about the end of 2026 and what comes after, but we are working hard to ensure that we are in the best possible position for 2026, 2027 and beyond,” says the team boss. “Fernando has shown that he is a phenomenal competitor. Age doesn’t seem to matter to him. His age seems to be a strength!”