To this specific end, and in the service of his broader ambition, Stroll Snr has built the world’s most state-of-the-art factory a stone’s throw away from Silverstone’s main entrance on the site of the now-demolished Jordan base. The edifice, including a wind tunnel, cost £200million and has raised the standard for facilities across the whole sport.
Stroll’s son Lance is regrettably not up to the description of being the world’s best driver, while Fernando Alonso does not have time on his side at the age of 43
As he pursues every possible avenue, the leading ornament of his recruitment drive is Adrian Newey, the most successful car designer in history, the aerodynamicist of whom it is said, ‘he can see air’. Disenchanted at Red Bull, Newey was offered a deal worth £20million a year and a 2.5 per cent stake in Aston. He starts in March.
Stroll has already succeeded in luring Adrian Newey, the most successful car designer in history, to the team after offering him a £20m-a-year deal and a 2.5 per cent stake in Aston
Yes, Stroll Snr is obviously keen to protect and nurture his son’s career. Many believe it is his guiding light. But bringing in Verstappen might be the most elegant solution to his dilemma. He would not want any old driver blowing away his boy.
Mail Sport has been told that Jefferson Slack, a close lieutenant of Lawrence Stroll, has recently made pitches to potential investors
Sir Ron Dennis, former boss at McLaren to no less than Ayrton Senna said once that his former star employee Newey, rather than the brilliant Brazilian of legend, was the most competitive person he had encountered. It is not easy to discern that from Newey’s polite, boffin-like demeanour. He is a quiet man who still sculpts his miracles on a drawing board with a pencil. But it is true.
Not so fast, mind. There is a way to go before that happens. As it stands, Verstappen is happy at Red Bull even after the bumps of the last year – the accusations of sexual misconduct against Christian Horner, of which he was cleared, but the aftermath of which had a destabilising and distracting effect (though, let’s not forget, the title was won brilliantly – Horner, by the way, has overseen two periods of dominance, with Sebastian Vettel and now Verstappen).
The pursuit of Verstappen is part of Canadian fashion billionaire Lawrence Stroll’s attempts to turn Aston Martin into the greatest team on the planet
Lawrence Stroll is a serial success story, a Canadian fashion billionaire who will stop at nothing in pursuit of what he wants. And what he wants most is to turn Aston Martin into the greatest team on the planet.
The Dutchman, who is contracted until 2028, has said he wants to remain at Red Bull for the remainder of his career
Stroll, 65, and as brusque as he is determined, has admitted that he has found Formula One the hardest nut to crack in all his business career.
Monetary enticement helped ensnare Newey, too. A share in the company was a key inducement, and one which Verstappen, if he ever were to fulfil the conclusion of Stroll’s vaulting aims, would almost certainly be able to avail himself.
For example, when chasing Newey, he invited not only Adrian but his wife Amanda to the factory. He knew her buy-in would be helpful. Ferrari were rival pursuers, and he needed to use all his guile.
He wants to drive the best car.
Verstappen has said he wants to remain at Red Bull for the remainder of his career. His contract, worth at least £50m a year, has until 2028 to run. He is by nature a loyal person, but he is also a pragmatic one.
That, as much as financial considerations, will determine where he ends up. If Newey can develop all-conquering machinery to roll out for 2026, to meet the next significant regulation change, then the Aston notion may well be alive.
Aston Martin are telling potential sponsors that Max Verstappen will join them in their ambitious bid to win the world title, in a £1billion deal