He\u2019s now a four-time drivers\u2019 champion<\/a> thanks to the work that Red Bull have done to be the dominant force in Formula 1.<\/p>\n However, that feeling in the paddock that Red Bull were the team to beat started to change last year, when first McLaren and then Ferrari leapfrogged them in the pecking order.<\/p>\n Verstappen used every ounce of skill to win a fourth consecutive championship, but any hope of retaining his title in 2025 appears lost.<\/p>\n Red Bull parted ways with Christian Horner<\/a> after the British Grand Prix, but he was just the latest senior member of staff to leave the Anglo-Austrian outfit.<\/p>\n Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 234 2 226 3 165 4 147 5 119 6 103 7 63 8 46 9 37 10 23 <\/p>\n Rob Marshall has worked wonders at McLaren, and Will Courtenay will soon join him, while Jonathan Wheatley\u2019s influence is already being felt at Sauber after Nico Hulkenberg\u2019s maiden Formula 1 podium.<\/p>\n Arguably, the man Red Bull have missed the most is Adrian Newey<\/a>, who has become managing technical director at Aston Martin<\/a>.<\/p>\n Verstappen has been linked with a move to Aston Martin next season<\/a>, but the designer\u2019s recent comments on the work going on behind the scenes at Silverstone should be enough to convince the Dutchman to hold off on a move.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen\u2019s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend<\/a><\/p>\n Newey started work at Aston Martin in March and was immediately placed on their 2026 F1 car project.<\/p>\n Aston Martin currently sit eighth in the constructors\u2019 championship, and while it would be tempting for Lawrence Stroll<\/a> to ask him to look over what can be improved with this year\u2019s car, it would ultimately be a waste of time.<\/p>\n Newey is working late into the night at Aston Martin on next year\u2019s car<\/a>; however, that\u2019s no guarantee of success.<\/p>\n Since his arrival, Newey has had to teach his new colleagues<\/a> how to use some of the new tools installed at their state-of-the-art factory in recent months.<\/p>\n SEASONDRIVERTEAM1992Nigel MansellWilliams1993Alain ProstWilliams1994N\/AWilliams1996Damon HillWilliams1997Jacques VilleneuveWilliams1998Mika HakkinenMcLaren1999Mika HakkinenN\/A2010Sebastian VettelRed Bull2011Sebastian VettelRed Bull2012Sebastian VettelRed Bull2013Sebastian VettelRed Bull2021Max VerstappenN\/A2022Max VerstappenRed Bull2023Max VerstappenRed Bull2024Max VerstappenN\/ATotal1412Adrian Newey\u2019s Formula 1 championships<\/p>\n It shows how much catching up Aston Martin have to do to be at the same level as Red Bull by the time the new regulations are introduced next year.<\/p>\n Speaking to F1 Insider<\/a>, Newey admitted Aston Martin are behind their rivals<\/a> in terms of development and said: \u201cYou\u2019re practically always playing catch-up.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil March, little had been done here for 2026. A little, of course, but we\u2019ve had a huge amount of work to do since then.\u201d<\/p>\n Newey might be pushing the boundaries for next season<\/a>, but Verstappen isn\u2019t in a position where he needs to take a risk on Aston Martin being the leading team in Formula 1 next year.<\/p>\n![\"Aston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2223315158-2-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Jakub Porzycki\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n