Aston Martin’s master plan to dethrone Red Bull still missing its Max Verstappen factor

Aston Martin are making no secret of their ambitions — they want to be the next Red Bull Racing.

Over the past two years, the Silverstone-based outfit have embarked on an aggressive recruitment drive, poaching some of Milton Keynes’ most prized technical minds and even securing Honda as a works power-unit partner for 2026.

But while the green team are building a car that looks every bit like a Red Bull in disguise, they’re missing the one ingredient that made Red Bull unstoppable — a Max Verstappen, the relentless hunter who never stops chasing victory.

The transformation began with Dan Fallows, Red Bull’s former Head of Aerodynamics. After more than a decade developing the airflow philosophies that shaped multiple title-winning cars, Fallows switched allegiances in April 2022, becoming Aston Martin’s Technical Director.

His move was the first clear sign that Aston meant business. Soon after, the recruitment drive intensified, targeting the core pillars of Red Bull’s technical dominance. Then came the blockbuster announcement — Adrian Newey, the mastermind behind Red Bull’s championship-winning machines and arguably the greatest designer in Formula One history, would be joining Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner in 2025.

After nearly two decades of dominance in Milton Keynes, Newey’s departure signalled a seismic shift. It was a declaration that Aston Martin were no longer content to be contenders — they wanted to dethrone the champions.

To complete the picture, Aston struck a landmark deal with Honda, Red Bull’s former engine partner and the supplier behind Verstappen’s first three world titles. From 2026, Honda will provide Aston Martin with an exclusive works power unit, ending their customer relationship with Mercedes.

The partnership gives Aston the full technical integration every title-winning outfit craves. With a brand-new factory, wind tunnel, and major investment from Aramco, the infrastructure is firmly in place for a genuine championship push.

But even with all the right ingredients — the brains, the budget, and the engine — they’re missing the one thing that can’t be engineered: a driver with the sheer intensity and mental edge of Max Verstappen.

Fernando Alonso remains a world-class competitor. His intelligence and racecraft are still razor-sharp, and he’s capable of moments of brilliance — podiums, daring overtakes, and strategic masterstrokes. Yet at 44, even his fire can’t fully overcome the limits of time. His prime championship-fighting years are behind him.

Then there’s Lance Stroll, the team owner’s son. While he’s shown flashes of pace, he lacks the raw speed, focus, and consistency required to win races. As Alonso drags the car to its limits, Stroll struggles to keep up — and that imbalance could cost Aston Martin dearly in the long run.

Meanwhile, Verstappen has become more than just a driver for Red Bull — he’s their heartbeat. Ruthless in qualifying, surgical in racecraft, and mentally unshakeable, he’s built to win under any circumstance. His relentless hunger turns even minor setbacks into motivation. Verstappen doesn’t just drive the car; he drives the entire team forward.

Aston Martin may soon have the structure and the resources to challenge for championships. But until they find their own Verstappen — that never-satisfied predator who thrives under pressure and bleeds speed — they’ll always be chasing Red Bull’s shadow, not their success.