Montoya: Newey not enough, Aston Martin need Verstappen

This coup is part of Stroll’s ongoing efforts to transform Aston Martin into a Dream Team and championship contender. However, former F1 driver and occasional pundit Juan Pablo Montoya believes that success is not guaranteed - even with Newey on board - they need Max Verstappen.

Speaking to the media folks at Gambling Zone, Montoya suggests that a key element might still be missing: Max Verstappen, and expressed scepticism about the short-term impact of Newey’s arrival: “I can’t see Adrian Newey being an immediate success at Aston Martin - he needs Max Verstappen."

While acknowledging Newey’s genius, Montoya pointed out that a top-tier driver is crucial for any team’s success. Much like Michael Schumacher was to Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes. Both winning F1 world titles with other teams [Schumi with Benetton and Lewis with McLaren] before going on to much bigger things with the next teams they joined.

Newey is known for his ability to think outside the box and was instrumental in Verstappen's dominance in recent years. The Englishman's move to Aston Martin - following a lucrative package from Stroll that outmanoeuvred Ferrari - brings high expectations.

Aston Martin has also secured a deal with Honda, the same engine supplier that powered Red Bull's victories. But according to Montoya, the team’s prospects will only start to materialise around 2026: “What Lawrence Stroll has done is amazing.

"He’s got the Honda deal that Red Bull had before, and now he’s got Newey," Montoya added. "He's got the two main elements that probably made Red Bull so successful. The missing ingredient is the right driver, a driver to get the job done.”

Montoya praised Aston Martin’s current driver, Fernando Alonso, but hinted that Alonso, at 42, might not be the team’s long-term solution. As for Stroll’s son, Lance, Montoya suggested that while Lance is not going anywhere, he is not the calibre driver needed to lead Aston Martin to glory.

The Colombian, a seven-time Grand Prix winner, believes the Aston Martin’s best hope lies in securing Max Verstappen, the reigning champion: “Fernando is amazing. How long can he go on? I don’t think Lance is going anywhere. When do they make that decision and go, ‘Hey, we’ve got the Honda, we’ve got Newey. Why not go after Max?’”

For Montoya, Verstappen is the final piece of the puzzle. Offering the Red Bull ace a long-term deal akin to Newey’s could turn Aston Martin into a true powerhouse: “Then you have one of the best drivers in the world, if not the best, the current best driver in the championship.

“The better he does, the more money he's going to make long term because the company is going to be worth even more," Montoya added.

Aston Martin may have assembled some of the best technical minds in Formula 1, but according to Montoya, the true test will be if they can lure Verstappen away from Red Bull and truly establish themselves as a force in the sport.