Max Verstappen has denied ever contemplating a move to Aston Martin, despite the team's recruitment of Red Bull's technical mastermind Adrian Newey.
In recent interviews with Viaplay, the quadruple world champion confirmed having discussions with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff about his future - but he dismissed any rumours linking him to Aston Martin.
"No, we haven't talked about it at all. Nothing at all," Verstappen stated firmly when asked about the possibility of wearing Aston Martin green.
Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll recently hailed Newey's addition as a transformative move for the team, but Verstappen downplayed its significance.
"He has to sell it like that, of course," Verstappen said with a laugh.
While acknowledging Newey's impact on Red Bull's success, Verstappen explained that the 65-year-old's involvement has become less central in recent years.
"In recent years it has not been a one-man team," he noted. "There are a lot of engineers who are involved. But of course, it is just very nice to have someone like that with the team."
Despite this, Verstappen reiterated that he hasn't entertained the idea of following Newey to Aston Martin.
"No," Verstappen said again. "That is very clear.
"I know that in 2026 the rules will change, but to be honest, I'm not worried about it now. I'm still young and a lot can change in the future. And I don't just think about Formula 1—afterwards, there are a lot of other things I would like to do."
Meanwhile, De Telegraaf reports that Michael Manning, a long-time member of Verstappen's engineering team, will step back from his role as a full-time travelling engineer in 2025. According to the report, Manning is considering a "different, larger position" within Red Bull.