Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen has been making headlines after reports surfaced that Aston Martin has offered him a staggering $1.2 billion deal to lure him away from Red Bull. Speculation linking him to Silverstone is set to grow even further, as new reports suggest the Dutchman is interested in partnering with Aston Martin’s 2025 Vantage, valued at $191,000, for his GT3 team.
The 27-year-old has hinted since 2023 at his interest in launching a GT3 team, and it seems he is now making that a reality. Per endurance-info.com, Verstappen will debut his team in the GT World Challenge Europe program.
His car of choice for the series is the 2025 Vantage, powered by a 4.0L V8 engine that produces 656 horsepower. Like its predecessors, the 2025 edition features an eight-speed automatic transmission, driving only the rear wheels.
Beyond the impressive specifications of the 2025 Vantage, another reason Verstappen may have chosen this car is his familiarity with the model—he owns a 2018 Vantage and may have been impressed by its performance. However, it seems unlikely that he will drive it himself, as he remains committed to F1 for now.
Max is starting his own GT team this year in GT World Challenge Europe
The car of choice.. the Vantage GT3. I know he’s had it for a bit but it’s not helping with the AM rumours in F1 pic.twitter.com/WHE49i8sHS
— Enzo (@Aperta) February 4, 2025
While the 27-year-old may not drive the Aston Martin Vantage, he could very well find himself behind the wheel of the AMR26 next year, given the ongoing rumors linking him to the Silverstone-based team. Although Aston Martin has denied making any move for the reigning Red Bull driver, some experts have lent credibility to these reports.
The Race’s Mark Hughes stated, “The idea of Max to Aston Martin I think is very real, and if what we’re hearing on the grapevine is true, those negotiations are already ongoing. So, even before we started hearing these rumors from within the paddock, and not just from people speculating, it did make perfect sense.”
Beyond the lucrative contract, there are two key reasons why Aston Martin may appeal to Verstappen. First, he would once again drive a car designed by Adrian Newey, the legendary aerodynamicist behind all four of his championship-winning Red Bull machines.
Second, there are growing concerns about Red Bull’s prospects from 2026 onwards, when new engine regulations take effect. Red Bull will be venturing into uncharted territory as they produce their own power units for the first time in partnership with Ford. In contrast, Aston Martin will benefit from an established supplier in Honda—the Japanese automaker whose engines powered Red Bull to consecutive Constructors’ titles in 2022 and 2023.
