Jacques Villeneuve predicts Max Verstappen's reaction to £1billion Aston Martin offer

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Aston Martin are attempting to sign Max Verstappen from Red Bull in a deal worth around £1billion – by far the most lucrative in Formula 1 history.

But former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has explained why the Dutchman will have no interest in joining the British team any time soon.

On Thursday, it was reported by the Daily Mail that Aston Martin Managing Director Jefferson Slack has been telling would-be investors that Verstappen will be moving to the Silverstone-based outfit.

It has long been known that team owner Lawrence Stroll would love to sign the four-time world champion as he looks to transform Aston Martin into a title-contenders.

That process took a significant step forward last year when they poached legendary car designer Adrian Newey from Red Bull, in a deal worth £30million-a-season.

Alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, Verstappen, 27, is the sport’s highest earner on £50m-a-year, and has a contract with Red Bull until 2028.

But there have been long-standing rumours that he could be tempted to leave amid an ongoing feud between his father Jos and team principal Christian Horner, as well as Red Bull’s decline in form in the second-half of last season.

Aston Martin, who have Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll – son of Lawrence – under contract until 2026, have ‘categorically denied the story’.

Verstappen’s camp meanwhile issued their own response when asked for comment, bluntly stating: ‘That’s nice.’

Speaking to Action Network before the story came out, 1997 world champion Villeneuve was asked if Verstappen would be a good fit for Aston Martin with Alonso likely to retire after 2026.

‘Lawrence Stroll would need someone that’s very strong mentally and hard-headed to replace Fernando Alonso,’ the Canadian said.

‘Max Verstappen would be more like, “what’s my next step?” You win with Ferrari, you win with Mercedes not with Aston Martin. Like Lewis Hamilton, he wants to win.’

Villeneuve went onto predict that this upcoming season will be extremely difficult for Stroll’s team, which could further dent their chances of landing Verstappen.

‘I would say Aston Martin will be the biggest disappointment of 2025,’ the former Williams driver added.

‘Not because they will do a bad job but because people are expecting them to start winning because Adrian Newey is there but he hasn’t had time yet to have an effect on the team so the expectations from outsiders and fans will be misplaced.

‘It will be disappointing not because of bad results but because they won’t be what people are wanting and hoping to see with Newey there. It takes time.’

The 2025 F1 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

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