Adrian Newey has underlined that Aston Martin will not become an attractive proposition to Max Verstappen without possessing a competitive package in Formula 1.
The unrelenting rumours associating Verstappen with a potential Red Bull departure have seen both Aston Martin and Mercedes be branded as possible destinations.
Aston Martin languishes in seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship, but the side has invested eye-watering sums in its bid to transform into title challengers.
That has contained striking a deal to sign design guru Newey, who provided the blueprint behind the Red Bull cars that Verstappen has won his four titles with to date.
But while Aston Martin is reported to be willing to table £226 million to lure Verstappen, Newey has stressed that a competitive car must accompany such a proposal.
“Max is clearly a phenomenal talent and a supreme competitor,” Newey said in Monaco, where he has made his debut appearance with Aston Martin at a race weekend.
“Part of that means that Max likes to break things down to a single, common equation, and in this particular case, choosing the team that he believes will deliver the fastest car.
“So if we’re ever to attract Max, the first thing we have to do is make a fast car.”
Asked whether that was an attainable target with revamped regulations arriving next season, Newey replied: “I have absolutely no idea.”
He added: “Max, as I said, is a phenomenal driver, phenomenal competitor. It’s just pipe dreaming about anything else from there.”
Newey relishing chance to work with Alonso
Regardless, Newey reiterated his excitement to now be working alongside Fernando Alonso, having turned down that opportunity whilst the Spaniard was with Ferrari.
“He’s such a cool character,” the Briton expressed. “He’s been an enemy for many years, along with Lewis [Hamilton].
“I think I’ve said before that you can only work with so many drivers, but two drivers, in the relatively modern area, I felt I’d enjoy working with are Lewis and Fernando.
“I didn’t work with both, so at least I got one of them.”
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