Max Verstappen to replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari? ‘Attractive’ scenario teased by former 

Max Verstappen could replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari if the seven-time World Champion cuts short his stay at the Scuderia.

That is the claim of Richard Hopkins, Red Bull’s former head of operations, who believes the attraction of reuniting with Adrian Newey could tempt Verstappen to swap Red Bull for Aston Martin.

Max Verstappen to Aston Martin? Mercedes? Or to replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari?

Despite being under contract until the end of the 2028 season, Verstappen’s future has been the subject of considerable scrutiny over the last 12 months in light of Red Bull’s competitive decline.

Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, confirmed to media including PlanetF1.com at last year’s Dutch Grand Prix that Verstappen’s contract contains a “performance element” that will potentially allow him to leave the team before 2028.

It has been speculated that Verstappen will be free to activate an exit clause if he is lower than third after a significant portion of the F1 2025 season has been completed.

Mercedes and Aston Martin have been strongly linked with ambitious moves for Verstappen in recent months, with the latter emerging as a potential option for Verstappen following the high-profile signing of Newey, the F1 design legend, last year.

Newey is currently working on Aston Martin’s first car under the new regulations planned for F1 2026, which will see the Silverstone-based team enter a works partnership with Red Bull’s current engine suppliers Honda, who have powered Verstappen to four consecutive World Championships since 2021.

Hopkins held a senior position at Red Bull as head of operations between 2013 and Verstappen’s debut season with the Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) junior team in 2015, working alongside Newey.

And he believes Verstappen could be attracted by the idea of reuniting with Newey at Aston Martin.

“Honestly, yes, I think Verstappen could be tempted by Aston Martin if Adrian Newey is involved,” he told Prime Casino.

“I’m not a betting man, but everywhere Adrian has been success has followed.

“He hasn’t lost his magic or his mojo. No one really thinks he has. He’s still more than capable of delivering results.

“Adrian’s a quiet figure, commanding but not loud. He doesn’t slam his fist on the table, but his presence and reputation create an unspoken expectation.

“People are in awe of him. He’s a true artist and, even though I got to know him well, every time I stepped into his office it felt like meeting a hero.

“That said, success isn’t just about one person. Just having Adrian at Aston Martin won’t be enough on its own.

“You need the right infrastructure, people and environment. When I joined Red Bull, I was just one part of the puzzle. The same would apply at Aston.

“But Adrian being at Aston could absolutely attract others just like he drew me to Red Bull.