Is Verstappen switching to Aston Martin inevitable?

Amid the talk of Max Verstappen heading to Aston Martin in 2026, we address the rumours in the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast. 

In a follow-up recording to the live shows we recently staged in London and Birmingham, we tackle some of the vast number of questions we received from the audience - including one about the reigning world champion’s future. 

We also discuss other aspects of Aston Martin’s rise, including the influence of Adrian Newey and Andy Cowell over driver decisions and Lance Stroll’s future. 

Other topics include how Lewis Hamilton will handle Ferrari politics, why Red Bull eschewed Carlos Sainz and whether Andrea Stella could have had the same impact on Alpine as he has on McLaren.

We also ask how clearcut the decision was for Gabriel Bortoleto to sign for Sauber, what qualifies as success for Audi, the reasons for the expected increased field spread under the new regulations next year and much more.

Want extra podcast content and to ask questions on the show? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon - we even have an F1-only tier! Head to Patreon.com/therace

• Get your 2025 calendar from The Race Shop!
• Follow The Race on Instagram, X and Facebook
• Check out our latest videos on YouTube
• Download our app on iOS or Android

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices