The president of Honda Racing Corporation sends Aston Martin a cryptic message when it comes to signing Max Verstappen, insisting they would love to keep working with the four-time world champion beyond the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Supplying engines to Red Bull since 2019, the Japanese car manufacturer and Dutchman have enjoyed an exceptional relationship that has yielded four world titles, 59 victories, 43 pole positions and 93 podiums.
However, that connection comes to an end following the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Red Bull switch to their own power unit brand, which is going to be sponsored by Ford on an exclusive basis.
It means as things stand the driver and the team will end their association and go separate ways as Honda head to Aston Martin, but they are keen to keep working with Verstappen as they send the British team a cryptic message with very complimentary praise.
“First of all, we will do everything we can to help him win his fifth world title this year,” Koji Watanabe said, as per De Telegraaf. “And then we will focus on our partnership with Aston Martin.
“But, I honestly have to say that I hope there will be another opportunity for Honda to work with Max Verstappen. I hope it happens. I have talked to Max many times and he has always been positive about our attitude and mentality.
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“Verstappen is also very good at communicating with Honda engineers. He speaks to them clearly and that has ensured that the engineers have become their fans and that they are very committed. People often see the athlete, but I also have a deep respect for Max as a person.”
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There are already links connecting Verstappen to the team such as the mammoth offer, unique Honda partnership and Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s ex-chief technical officer responsible for their aero domination from 2022-2024.
Aston Martin have also overhauled their infrastructure by unveiling a state-of-the-art wind tunnel along with a 37,000 square meters factory site as they aim to pursue the titles from 2026.
Reports from Daily Mail in the United Kingdom claim the British team’s managing director of commercial and marketing, Jefferson Slack, has been talking about the prospect with investors.
Verstappen, however, played the links down when asked and insisted his only involvement with Aston Martin whatsoever is regarding a GT3 supercar project.
“When I read that, it was the first time I’d seen anything like that,” Verstappen said. “That’s it. There is nothing more to say, because there is really nothing there.”
