Aston Martin say they are “committed” to their current driver lineup but did not rule out a reported $300 million move for Max Verstappen.

The Dutchman has often been linked with a move to the Silverstone squad but a report from Italy ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix said Aston are preparing a big money contract offer for the current World Champion.

Aston Martin react to Max Verstappen $300 million reported move

Additional reporting by Thomas Maher

Having enticed Adrian Newey and Honda to the team, Aston look set to go after Verstappen with Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport claiming a $300 million contract offer was being prepared.

They claim the offer would be three seasons valued at $100 million a year, making it easily the most lucrative deal in F1 history. Verstappen is already the owner of the most expensive contract in F1 with Red Bull paying a reported $55 million per year.

Asked for comment, Aston said they remained “committed” to their current lineup – both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll remain under contract next season – but did not outright deny the speculation.

“It’s normal for the media to speculate on driver market, but we have an amazing driver line-up that we are committed to and who are under contract for 2026 and beyond,” a spokesperson for the team told PlanetF1.com.

“Our focus is on delivering for our drivers by giving them a more consistent and competitive car. When we do, they are both capable of delivering great results.”

Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll signed new deals last year to keep them at Silverstone until, at least, the end of 2026.

It is claimed that the move will be financed by the sovereign fund of Saudi Arabia, with Gazzetta claiming the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is determined to take over the team. Aston insists there are no plans to go any further than the investment offer vehicle which was announced recently.

Aston Martin Lagonda is set to sell its £74m minority investment in the Formula 1 team as part of a plan to increase the luxury car maker’s liquidity.

The sale, though, will have no impact on Aston Martin’s sponsorship of the F1 team with the The Business Desk reporting Aston Martin ‘will remain present and competing at the pinnacle of motorsport for many years to come.’

The process is set to see AML sell its stake, with Stroll appointing investment bank Raine Group to help find a buyer for its stake, with Raine set to work with the team’s commercial chief Jefferson Slack to secure a “strategic investor”.

The sale will see Stroll increase his shareholding in Aston Martin Lagonda to 33 percent.

The report from Gazzetta also suggests that Aston wants Verstappen from 2026 meaning they would have to negotiate an exit with his current employers Red Bull, with the Dutch driver under contract until the end of the F1 2028 season.

The Dutchman’s current deal runs until 2028 but there has been rumours of exit clauses should the team not meet certain performance targets.

The suggestion is that PIF, if involved with the Aston Martin team, could dip deep to help pay for Verstappen’s contract, although sources have indicated to PlanetF1.com that an offer has not yet been extended to the Dutch driver, but that the Silverstone-based squad could be testing the water.

Speaking during the FIA Press Conference, Aston Martin F1 team boss Andy Cowell notably did not outright deny the possibility of Verstappen arriving at the team in the future, insisting that his focus remains on developing a fast and competitive cars for Alonso and Stroll.

Pressed on his future by Sky’s David Croft, Verstappen had some advice for the commentator – issuing a message to try addressing the noise surrounding him and his future with the Red Bull team.

“I think just focus on commentating, I’ll focus on driving, and then you don’t need to think about any other scenarios,” Verstappen said.

“I mean, honestly, a lot of people are talking about [the future], except me.

“Like I said before, I just want to focus on my car [and] work with the people in the team. That’s the only thing that I’m thinking about in Formula 1 at the moment. I’m very relaxed.

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“I am happy. I’m just not very happy with, of course, our car, but I think it goes for everyone. You know, we all want to be better.

“I think there is no secret about that, so that’s what we are trying to improve.

“I think we had really good chats in the last few weeks already with the people about the car.

“I think we all very much aligned, so like I said, we’re just trying to improve the situation. It doesn’t change anything, so just keep going.”

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