On Thursday, Lewis Hamilton refuted rumors that he was let down or overlooked by celebrity designer Adrian Newey’s choice to join Aston Martin rather than go from Red Bull to Ferrari for the next season. The seven-time champion said that, in the absence of Newey, he felt “privileged” to have worked with two championship-winning teams at McLaren and Mercedes, and that it would have been “an honor” to collaborate with him in Italy the following season.

“I think any team would have been fortunate to have him,” Hamilton said of the 65-year-old British driver, who announced at a lavish ceremony on Tuesday that he will join Aston Martin in 2025.

He had to act in his own best interests at the end of the day. For me, nothing changes as a result. With the following move, it doesn’t alter my objective or my concentration. Thus, I firmly think that there is still plenty we can do there.

More than 200 Grand Prix wins and 25 titles have been won by Newey’s vehicles. Earlier this year, he announced his intention to quit Red Bull and that he had spoken with a number of teams, including Ferrari, before choosing to join Silverstone-based Aston Martin.

Six-time Formula One champion Hamilton (with his current Mercedes team, and one with McLaren) claimed he has always wanted to work with Newey.

In an interview in Baku before to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this coming weekend, he was asked whether he regretted Ferrari’s failure to recruit Newey.

To be honest, no. Although I’ve previously said that working with Adrian would be an honor, I feel as if I’ve had the opportunity of working with two championship-winning teams without Adrian.

Charles Leclerc, his potential Ferrari teammate, said he was also not disappointed.

He said, “It’s not like we haven’t tried or spoken to Adrian.” “I am aware that discussions had place, and he made his choice. I respect his choice. In the end, we at Ferrari have always valued the collective above the individual.

“Obviously, Adrian has a stellar track record and has accomplished incredible things, but we have a fantastic group, and I am confident that we will be a very competitive team again.”

Verstappen “future”

Indicating that he may not continue in Formula One till 2026 to see the full rewards of team owner Lawrence Stroll’s investments, two-time champion Fernando Alonso, who will collaborate with Newey at Aston Martin next year, made a suggestion.

When the first Aston Martin created by Newey is scheduled to compete in the championship and the Spaniard’s current four-year contract expires in 2026, he will be forty-five years old.

In 2026, I’ll be able to drive. And I’ll be in Formula One or another series with Aston Martin after 2026,” he said with a hint of his trademark cryptic humor.

“I’ll relish the promising future ahead of me—the Valkyrie sportscar program for Le Mans is shaping up for next year, and who knows what the future holds for 2027, 2028, and 2029?”

Three-time world champion Max Verstappen is a potential Alonso successor in the future; there have been rumors in the pits that he may leave Red Bull.

Verstappen said it was a possibility but would not be drawn on the topic on Thursday.

Verstappen said, “I’m working on other worries that I’m paying a lot of attention to right now.”

“So, that is something I may consider in the future, but not right now.”

But Mike Krack, the manager of the Aston Martin squad, was clear that he wanted the world champion to join the group.

He said, “Max Verstappen’s door is always open… for everything.” “The appointment of Adrian Newey is evidence that the project has merit.”