A form♛er Red Bull driver has claimed that Adrian Newey and Aston Martin have a🃏greed to join forces.

Robert Doornbos, the reserve and test driver for Red Bull in 🃏2006, now works as a public speaker and an ‘F1 analyst’.

He has boldly stated that the fate of Newey - the outgoing Red🥂 Bull chief t𝓀echnical officer - has been sealed.

Doornbos said about Ferrari’s failure🐓 to sign the tech genius: “Newey’s demands were high.

“He sought a salary double what he earned at Red Bull and greater control over technical staff꧙.

“This proved too much for Ferrari’s team boss, Frederic Vasseur,💃 and the negotiations ultimately fel⭕l through.”

Doornbos added: “A surprising ꦬnew co🐭ntender then emerged: Aston Martin.

൲“Led by Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin has been aggressiv🐻ely pushing to become title contenders within five years. Now in their third year, they must make significant strides in the next two.

“Their exclusive engine deal with Honda in 2026 positions them as a factory team, and Stroll is investing a billion dollars to ac🌊hieve his championship dream.

“With two-time champion Fernando Alonso already on board and advances made to Max Verstappen, they’re 🐽aiming for the best of the best.

“However, N𒈔ewey was Aston Martin's top priority, and the deal is now finalised.

“Set to earn $100 million over three years, tw🃏ice his Red 🔴Bull salary, Newey will have major input in technical decisions.

“Aston Martin, with its state-of-the-art factory completed last year, likely attracted him with its advanced technology, including a new wind tunnel. The official announcement is expected i൲n September.”

There is no indication f🌌rom Aston Martin that Doornbos’ claim is true.

Team principal Mike Kracꦏk denied to Sky Sports in April that the team had made an “astronomica🅰l” offer to Newey.

Newey will exit Red Bull early next year meaning he can ma🦹jorly influence the 2026 car for whoev♏er may employ him next.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has ruled his team out of the running, meaning Aston Martin and Ferrari are the likeliest two destination🌠s.

Doornbos worked with Newey du🤪ring his year as Re🌱d Bull’s reserve and test driver.

“Reflecting back to my days at Red Bull in 2006, the time when Adrian joined, I recall the initial scepticism in the paddock around our team's commitment to serio♕us racing amidst a 'party team' repu💮tation, more interested in commercial gains than competitive success,” he previously said.

“Adrian's arrival was a turning point, bringing a blend of precision and relentless pursuit of the limits, which later define🍰d the team's culture and success.

“My firsthand experience with Adrian began in 2006/2007, during an era of unlimited testing. A fantastic period for me as a develop🔥ment driver, preparing for my debut as a Grand Prix racer.

“Adrian's approach was unique, he conꦉtinually sought to push the boundaries of what was possible within the sport's regulations, often with nothing more than a sketch on paper.

“This out-of-the-b𒊎ox thinking often meant redefining what other engineers and teams deemed impossible.”