Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has added fuel to the fire over speculation the team are targeting the signing of Max Verstappen. This week, it was announced that influential designer Adrian Newey would be joining the team next year after leaving Red Bull, with owner Lawrence Stroll expected to continue his ambitious spending.

Aston Martin will be using Honda power units for the 2026 campaign, a season when they are heavily expected to challenge at the top end of the F1 grid.

And with Verstappen reportedly unsettled by Newey’s departure, and internal relations still somewhat strained, rumours over his future are currently rife.

The three-time world champion is currently contracted with the team until 2028. However, with money seemingly no object to Stroll, it is not inconceivable that Horner and co will be forced to let him leave prematurely if an offer comes in.

Speaking ahead of this week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Krack has openly embraced the notion of the Dutch driver following Newey. "The door for Max Verstappen is always open, for everything," he said.

“When you manage to appoint Adrian Newey, first of all, it is proof that the project is credible, that the whole vision of Lawrence is not just words. It is real action that we can take confidence from as a team.”

Krack was also bold over team aspirations, staying: "This is not an underdog team like it used to be in the past, it is a team that should be confident it can do it, but also you now have a completely different approach with partners and drivers. Signing Newey opens a lot of doors for the future."

Aston Martin are not the only team targeting the 26-year-old though. Mercedes have also been linked with a sensational move for the man who controversially pipped Lewis Hamilton to the drivers' title in 2021.

With Hamilton leaving for Ferrari at the end of this season, the Austrian appears to be looking towards the future as the performance of the Silver Arrows improves on the track. And despite remaining tight-lipped on the subject, he has reportedly already sounded out Verstappen over a potential move.

The current leader in the drivers’ standings remains odds-on for a fourth consecutive crown this year, but the dominance of Red Bull has undoubtedly waned this season amid the emergence of McLaren.

And Red Bull and Verstappen now head to Baku this weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, at a circuit they've struggled on in recent seasons.