Adrian Newey has expressed that for Aston Martin to have any chance of luring Max Verstappen to their team, they must first develop a race-winning car.

Newey, who is Aston Martin’s managing technical partner, is at his first race for the team in Monaco after starting his new role in early March. He previously spent nearly 20 years at Red Bull, contributing significantly to Verstappen’s four world championships and earning a reputation as one of the sport’s premier designers.

The task ahead for Newey at Aston Martin is distinct; his appointment is viewed as a crucial element in Lawrence Stroll’s ambitious plan to elevate the team to championship contention. Verstappen, currently under contract with Red Bull until 2028, does have exit clauses if the team fails to provide him with a competitive car and has been rumored to be considering a return to work with Newey.

“Max is undeniably a remarkable talent and a fierce competitor,” Newey stated. “His decision-making often boils down to a straightforward equation: he will choose the team that he believes can deliver the fastest car. Therefore, to attract Max, the fundamental requirement is to build a fast car.”

When asked about the timeline for this development, Newey responded that he had “absolutely no idea,” labeling the prospect of Verstappen improving the team as a “pipe dream.”

Sky Sports featured Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, humorously commenting on Newey’s presence in the Aston Martin garage, noting, “He looks like a giant bogey. It’s strange to see him in green, but also wonderful.”

Reports indicate that the relationship between Newey and Verstappen had cooled by the time of Newey’s departure from Red Bull. Despite Lawrence Stroll’s investments in the team, Aston Martin has faced challenges with the alignment of their track performance and simulation data. It was anticipated that the introduction of a new wind tunnel would resolve these issues, but Newey has highlighted that the core problem lies within the simulator itself.

“It’s fair to say that some of our tools are lacking, especially the driver-in-loop simulator. It requires significant improvement because its outputs are currently not correlating, which is vital for our research. The absence of effective tools is a limitation, but we must navigate around this and develop a strategy to enhance it. Expecting this to be rectified might take about two years,” Newey noted.

The simulator serves two key purposes: it aids in car design and assists in refining setups during race weekends. Newey acknowledged that his wife, Amanda, often says he enters a “design trance” due to his intense focus on the 2026 car, which will mark his first significant influence on the team.

On Thursday, Newey defended Lance Stroll’s driving capabilities in comparison to esteemed teammates like Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. However, during his initial session from the garage, he witnessed a critical mistake unfold.

In the first practice session, Stroll attempted to yield to another driver but inadvertently re-entered the track directly in front of Charles Leclerc, who collided with Stroll’s Aston Martin.

The team took responsibility, asserting that the communication directing Stroll had not been clear enough, as Stroll informed the stewards that he did not hear it. Consequently, he received a one-place penalty for the upcoming race, irrespective of his qualifying position.

While the Ferrari sustained damage to its front wing, Stroll’s car suffered extensive issues, including the need for a new gearbox and rear suspension, preventing him from completing the first practice session.

Surprisingly, Charles Leclerc topped both practice sessions on Friday, despite his concerns about the Ferrari’s performance on this circuit. However, it is essential to note that the practice sessions could see Ferrari utilizing a higher engine mode, and the true competitive landscape will only be revealed during qualifying on Saturday.