Christian Horner Speaks Out On Max Verstappen Aston Martin Rumors

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has addressed the rumors that emerged over the winter break that Aston Martin had offered Max Verstappen a contract worth £1 billion.

Shooting down the speculation, Horner spoke about the four-time champion's future with the team during a press conference ahead of the F1 75 event on Tuesday. He explained that £1 billion would be an "eye-wateringly large amount of money."

“I know you guys [the media] have all got column inches to fill over a winter period, but a billion-pound driver, a billion dollars, it would be an eye-wateringly large amount of money,” said Horner to the media including F1 on SI.

Showing confidence in Verstappen's future with the team, Horner explained that it is down to Red Bull to provide the Dutchman with a competitive car. He added:

“I think Max is very happy in the environment that he’s in. He’s grown up in the team, he has a great relationship with the team, the engineers, the technicians and everybody that he works with.

“It’s down to us to provide a competitive car and continue to give him the platform to be able to achieve the results that he has over the last almost 10 years.”

When asked if a £1 billion contract would even be possible, Horner responded:

“I can’t comment on other teams’ finances, but Red Bull are relatively well-positioned, I would think, compared to others within the pit lane.”

The reports initially emerged from the Daily Mail during the off-season and were later denied by Aston Martin.

Aston Martin heads into the 2025 F1 season with two-time champion Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. The team is also set to welcome former Red Bull CTO Adrian Newey at the beginning of March.

2025 Formula One Season Schedule

Pre-Season Testing

Dates: 26-28 Feb
Location: Bahrain, Sakhir
Event Name: FORMULA 1 ARAMCO PRE-SEASON TESTING 2025
Circuit: Pre-Season Testing

Australia

Dates: 14-16 Mar
Location: Australia, Melbourne
Event Name: FORMULA 1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Melbourne circuit

China

Dates: 21-23 Mar
Location: China, Shanghai
Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Shanghai circuit

Japan

Dates: 04-06 Apr
Location: Japan, Suzuka
Event Name: FORMULA 1 LENOVO JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Suzuka circuit

Bahrain

Dates: 11-13 Apr
Location: Bahrain, Sakhir
Event Name: FORMULA 1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Sakhir circuit

Saudi Arabia

Dates: 18-20 Apr
Location: Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
Event Name: FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Jeddah circuit

Miami

Dates: 02-04 May
Location: Miami, Miami
Event Name: FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Miami circuit

Emilia-Romagna

Dates: 16-18 May
Location: Emilia-Romagna, Imola
Event Name: FORMULA 1 AWS GRAN PREMIO DEL MADE IN ITALY E DELL'EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2025
Circuit: Imola circuit

Monaco

Dates: 23-25 May
Location: Monaco, Monaco
Event Name: FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2025
Circuit: Monaco circuit

Spain

Dates: 30 May-01 Jun
Location: Spain, Barcelona
Event Name: FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2025
Circuit: Barcelona circuit

Canada

Dates: 13-15 Jun
Location: Canada, Montréal
Event Name: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2025
Circuit: Montréal circuit

Austria

Dates: 27-29 Jun
Location: Austria, Spielberg
Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Spielberg circuit

Great Britain

Dates: 04-06 Jul
Location: Great Britain, Silverstone
Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Silverstone circuit

Belgium

Dates: 25-27 Jul
Location: Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps
Event Name: FORMULA 1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Spa-Francorchamps circuit

Hungary

Dates: 01-03 Aug
Location: Hungary, Budapest
Event Name: FORMULA 1 LENOVO HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Budapest circuit

Netherlands

Dates: 29-31 Aug
Location: Netherlands, Zandvoort
Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Zandvoort circuit

Italy

Dates: 05-07 Sep
Location: Italy, Monza
Event Name: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2025
Circuit: Monza circuit

Azerbaijan

Dates: 19-21 Sep
Location: Azerbaijan, Baku
Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Baku circuit

Singapore

Dates: 03-05 Oct
Location: Singapore, Marina Bay
Event Name: FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Marina Bay circuit

United States

Dates: 17-19 Oct
Location: United States, Austin
Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Austin circuit

Mexico

Dates: 24-26 Oct
Location: Mexico, Mexico City
Event Name: FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO 2025
Circuit: Mexico City circuit

Brazil

Dates: 07-09 Nov
Location: Brazil, São Paulo
Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES GRANDE PRÊMIO DE SÃO PAULO 2025
Circuit: São Paulo circuit

Las Vegas

Dates: 20-22 Nov
Location: Las Vegas, Las Vegas
Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Las Vegas circuit

Qatar

Dates: 28-30 Nov
Location: Qatar, Lusail
Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Lusail circuit

Abu Dhabi

Dates: 05-07 Dec
Location: Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
Event Name: FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Yas Island circuit