Following Adrian Newey's high-profile impending move to Aston Martin, Max Verstappen is already being linked with a potentially similar departure from Red Bull.
Italian publication Autosprint suggests that Aston Martin's owner, Lawrence Stroll, has already opened talks with the triple world champion, with Verstappen's father, Jos, having previously explored a possible move to Mercedes for his son.
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Newey's decision to leave Red Bull was influenced by the internal struggles the team has faced in 2024, which may also explain their recent drop in performance.
"The unrest at the beginning of the year certainly contributed to it," he told Sky Deutschland.
"But that's not all that has been happening. You hear a lot in the paddock."
"There's a lot of talk around that team," Schumacher added, revealing that he's heard rumours about Christian Horner's management style being "not quite as nice anymore."
Newey himself revealed that he had discussions with Ferrari but was ultimately drawn to Aston Martin by Stroll's enthusiasm for the team's future, their rapid growth, and the offer of part-ownership in the organisation.
"We have managed to bring in the best," Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa told DAZN, "and it is because Adrian believes the team is ready for him.
"Not all the teams are ready to bring in a figure like Adrian Newey."
De la Rosa emphasised that even many people within the team were surprised by Newey's signing.
"We knew absolutely nothing, I can assure you," said the former F1 driver. "The truth is that we knew nothing but we knew that it was a dream scenario."
He added, "It is very important news for the history of Aston Martin in Formula 1 - I think it clearly marks a before and an after."
De la Rosa said Stroll's commitment to success became evident when he began targeting multiple world champions to drive for Aston Martin.
"The fact that he signed Fernando (Alonso) showed his determination. He let one world champion go and replaced him immediately with another," the Spaniard explained, referring to Sebastian Vettel's departure.
"That's what he did with Fernando, and now he's done the same with Adrian – always relying on the best so that the team can grow."
However, as rumours about Verstappen's potential move to Aston Martin begin to circulate, Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore cautions that the team cannot rely on star individuals to deliver success.
"Formula 1 is actually not a sport of egos," the Italian stated. "One man alone cannot change a team. Of course, they can buy whoever they want, but the results won't automatically follow from their purchases."
