Verstappen not leaving says Horner amid rumoured $300m bid by Aston Martin · RaceFans

April 18, 2025

in Racing

Reading Time: 2 mins read

Max Verstappen will proceed to drive for Crimson Bull subsequent yr, crew principal Christian Horner has acknowledged following rumours of a profitable supply from Aston Martin.

Crimson Bull is dealing with additional hypothesis over their star driver’s future after he fell to 3rd place within the championship on the earlier spherical. The crew’s motorsport guide Helmut Marko final week claimed Verstappen may exploit an exit clause in his contract if he’s not inside the highest three by the summer time break in August.

Requested whether or not Marko’s declare was true, Horner stated: “I believe ‘noise’ is precisely the appropriate phrase to explain it.”

“There’s been a number of noise outdoors of the crew,” he advised Sky. “Contained in the crew, I believe Max once more reaffirmed his dedication yesterday.”

Horner stated Verstappen will “completely” proceed to drive for Crimson Bull in 2026.

Verstappen’s dissatisfaction with the crew’s dip in efficiency final yr prompted claims he may transfer to a rival crew earlier than his present cope with Crimson Bull ends in 2028. The primary rumours of an method from Aston Martin emerged earlier this yr.

Right now La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Aston Martin has supplied Verstappen a three-year deal value $300 million (£226m). The Italian newspaper claimed Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund, which has spent closely on different sports activities, intends to purchase the crew and can finance the bid for the four-times world champion.

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Horner downplayed Marko’s fears Verstappen may depart the crew. “Persons are at all times going to have their issues,” he stated. “As a crew we’re very a lot targeted on sorting this automotive out. Kind the automotive out, it doesn’t even change into a dialogue level.”

Verstappen and crew mate Yuki Tsunoda ended the primary observe session on the backside of the highest 10. Horner stated the crew had “gone a little bit radical on a few of the set-up,” in that session.

“We’ve obtained lots to take a look at. We ran the vehicles barely in a different way as nicely, in order that we’ve obtained that data now to digest earlier than the second session.”