For the first time since 2022, Red Bull and Max Verstappen have started this season not being the benchmark on the Formula 1 grid. The energy drink company has seen how the McLaren team has started 2025 as the clear benchmark and is maintaining the trend with which they ended last year.
Max Verstappen is considering forming a ‘Dream Team’ with Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin?
When the Woking team managed to win the constructors’ world championship with a sufficient lead for most of the year to be declared winners. At that time, due to the difficulties of the world champion as well as the departure of Adrian Newey, rumors were circulating that Max Verstappen would be joining Fernando Alonso.
And not for 2026, but even for 2025, according to the most daring. It didn’t happen, for the moment, but it is known that both Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso intend to compete together. More with Adrian Newey, and to form the ‘Dream Team’ of Formula 1 in Aston Martin.
Here, for his part, Max never said anything and remained silent, as did Fernando. But it is known that on more than one occasion, both of them have been talking about the possibility of joining forces as garage mates. Also outside F1, as in the World Endurance Championship, the WEC, but not without trying in the ‘Great Circus’.
That is why now, and due to the extra effort that Max Verstappen will have to make to win the 2025 title without having the best car, the idea of driving for Aston Martin is back on the table. And to add fuel to the fire, Honda have also spoken out in recent days, saying that it would be “exciting” to have Max back on board for their new venture with the Silverstone team from 2026.
“There’s always a chance Verstappen will rejoin Honda at Aston Martin”
“There is always the possibility that Verstappen will reunite with Honda at Aston Martin. Rumors are running wild,” said controversial former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert in statements to Pokerfirma.com. ‘I keep hearing that there are difficulties with the new Ford engine project at Red Bull. And usually these rumors are well-founded,’ argues the former commissioner.
At this point Aston Martin is taken. Because the option of working again with Adrian Newey, with whom he always got on very well, and having the Honda engine again, with which he won his four championships, is a possibility that appeals to him. He knows a lot of people at the Japanese company and could have good information on how the 50/50 hybrid unit for 2026 is going. And the news he receives could be quite good in that respect.
Difficulties in the Ford and Red Bull project
In any case, it is still too early for someone who should break a contract that runs until 2028, if he does not obtain this year results that serve to exercise the performance clause that he must have included.
Therefore, taking 2026 or 2027 as a reference, it is possible that at Silverstone they are thinking about or considering the possibility that the Spaniard, either through lack of motivation or lack of results, will end up stepping aside. So the Dutchman could aim first to be Alonso’s teammate, taking Stroll’s place, and then take on the role of the team’s main driver.
It should be remembered that Verstappen’s future has been a topic of constant debate since last season, especially when Red Bull began to show signs of weakness, although his renewal was also an option.
Even back then, the four-time world champion was seen to be frustrated with the situation at Red Bull, and this would have worsened at the start of 2025. He was particularly critical of Christian Horner and the team’s lack of improvement compared to McLaren and Mercedes. The figure of Max Verstappen was always on the table of the big teams, but it never seemed viable for him to leave the winning team. Until now.