Verstappen to Mercedes or Aston Martin? Relevant F1 voice issues verdict on crucial dilemma

Although he has repeatedly stated that he doesn’t intend to leave Red Bull this year, Max Verstappen’s future remains uncertain. F1 analyst Peter Windsor has discussed the possible alternative paths the Dutchman might consider.

On top of that, the RB21 remains competitive at times, but appears to be struggling to keep up with the pace of the MCL39. Will the Dutchman start exploring his options at the end of the season?

Sharing his Canadian GP analysis viaYouTube channel, Peter Windsor obviosuly put the focus on Verstappen, who managed to bring home a valuable second place: "Every team in the pit lane would want to sign Max Verstappen. Sure, recalling 2021, Toto Wolff made the promise to Lewis Hamilton then that Max would not take the second Mercedes seat''.

He emphasized that Verstappen has been on the German team's radar for many years, but Wolff simply wasn't allowed to sign him because of Hamilton.

Yet, the F1 journalist finds it odd that the promise to the seven-time world champion was eventually broken by Wolff. Although Verstappen was no longer an option, George Russell was brought into the German squad prior to the 2022 season. Windsor, too, was puzzled by this decision, noting: "Why did he (Wolff, ed.) then ultimately still respect Lewis's wish to retain Valtteri Bottas?"

Mercedes or Aston Martin for Verstappen?

That Adrian Newey is already making a significant impact at Aston Martin comes as no surprise. He was the architect behind Red Bull’s dominance with both Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, and now he’s bringing that same expertise to his new team. His presence is already proving influential, as a wave of top talent is being drawn to Lawrence Stroll’s project.

Adrian Newey is important for Aston Martin leading up to 2026

This didn’t go unnoticed by Windsor either. The 73-year-old also pointed out that Fernando Alonso likely won’t be racing in Formula 1 for much longer. For the Australian, there was only one logical successor to the Spaniard: Max Verstappen.

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This article was written in collaboration with Jordan Brooks