Lawrence Stroll is a serial success story, a Canadian fashion billionaire who will stop at nothing in pursuit of what he wants. And what he wants most is to turn Aston Martin into the greatest team on the planet.
It has been an itch for the seven years he has been owner of the James Bond marque, but its origins go back further. It is a dream he has long shared with Lance, his 26-year-old driver son, a former Ferrari protege. Ideally, they would reach the pinnacle of motor racing together.
To this specific end, and in the service of his broader ambition, Stroll Snr has built the world’s most state-of-the-art factory a stone’s throw away from Silverstone’s main entrance on the site of the now-demolished Jordan base. The edifice, including a wind tunnel, cost £200million and has raised the standard for facilities across the whole sport.
It eclipses even McLaren’s Lord (Norman) Foster-designed HQ in Woking, itself a barely believable confection next to a man-made lake and known by some as SMERSH. There, dust is never allowed to fall.
The Aston factory – sorry, the ‘Technology Campus’ with its helicopter pad for Stroll, natch – is only part of a grand design, which, as we can exclusively reveal, can only logically culminate in his pursuit of the greatest driver there is: Max Verstappen.
Stroll, who made his money taking Pierre Cardin and Ralph Lauren to Canada and globalising Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors, has laid the groundwork for this bold heist, whether it ends up successful or otherwise, by rapaciously signing engineering talent from leading rivals over the last few years. Mercedes’ former engine boss Andy Cowell has just been installed as team principal and former Red Bull man Dan Fallows was axed last November from his position as technical director after two years.
Aston Martin are telling potential sponsors that Max Verstappen will join them in their ambitious bid to win the world title, in a £1billion deal
The pursuit of Verstappen is part of Canadian fashion billionaire Lawrence Stroll’s attempts to turn Aston Martin into the greatest team on the planet
Stroll has already succeeded in luring Adrian Newey, the most successful car designer in history, to the team after offering him a £20m-a-year deal and a 2.5 per cent stake in Aston
Stroll, 65, and as brusque as he is determined, has admitted that he has found Formula One the hardest nut to crack in all his business career.
As he pursues every possible avenue, the leading ornament of his recruitment drive is Adrian Newey, the most successful car designer in history, the aerodynamicist of whom it is said, ‘he can see air’. Disenchanted at Red Bull, Newey was offered a deal worth £20million a year and a 2.5 per cent stake in Aston. He starts in March.
Sir Ron Dennis, former boss at McLaren to no less than Ayrton Senna said once that his former star employee Newey, rather than the brilliant Brazilian of legend, was the most competitive person he had encountered. It is not easy to discern that from Newey’s polite, boffin-like demeanour. He is a quiet man who still sculpts his miracles on a drawing board with a pencil. But it is true.
So logic is adding up. Stroll is hell-bent on winning and so is Newey, who has just turned 66 and is embarking on what is probably the final act of his glittering career under the title of technical director. He sits above Cowell to all intents and purposes, and behind only Stroll.
If Newey wants to succeed in his last gainful incarnation, he cannot do so without the services of the world’s best driver. Is Stroll Jnr up to that description? Regrettably, not – though he is hardly untalented to say the least, despite being sometimes unfairly slagged off in certain quarters on grounds of ‘nepotism’.
Is Fernando Alonso the No1? He arguably once was (though a certain Mr Hamilton might argue that one), but he is 43 and the magical Spaniard hardly has time on his side. And Stroll, worth some £3billion, has the necessary funds to make his and Newey’s dream happen with regards to Verstappen, the guy who answers the question that I – and they – are posing.
Yes, Stroll Snr is obviously keen to protect and nurture his son’s career. Many believe it is his guiding light. But bringing in Verstappen might be the most elegant solution to his dilemma. He would not want any old driver blowing away his boy.
But Verstappen has trounced all-comers all his life. If Lance were to lose out to him, as he assuredly would, how much damage would there be? ‘Who could beat Max?’ as the argument would run, and fairly so.
Stroll’s son Lance is regrettably not up to the description of being the world’s best driver, while Fernando Alonso does not have time on his side at the age of 43
Verstappen is happy at Red Bull even after the bumps of the last year – including the accusations of sexual misconduct against Christian Horner, of which he was cleared
The Dutchman, who is contracted until 2028, has said he wants to remain at Red Bull for the remainder of his career
So, as Mail Sport has been told, Stroll’s close and respected commercial deal-maker Jefferson Slack, the team’s managing director, commercial and marketing, is telling potential sponsors that Verstappen will be joining them.
Not so fast, mind. There is a way to go before that happens. As it stands, Verstappen is happy at Red Bull even after the bumps of the last year – the accusations of sexual misconduct against Christian Horner, of which he was cleared, but the aftermath of which had a destabilising and distracting effect (though, let’s not forget, the title was won brilliantly – Horner, by the way, has overseen two periods of dominance, with Sebastian Vettel and now Verstappen).
Verstappen has said he wants to remain at Red Bull for the remainder of his career. His contract, worth at least £50m a year, has until 2028 to run. He is by nature a loyal person, but he is also a pragmatic one.
He wants to drive the best car.
That, as much as financial considerations, will determine where he ends up. If Newey can develop all-conquering machinery to roll out for 2026, to meet the next significant regulation change, then the Aston notion may well be alive.
If Red Bull, who are building their own Ford-backed engine in 2026, fail, then he would as likely as not jump ship – somewhere. Incidentally, Verstappen and Newey get on well but are not especially close.
Verstappen’s father Jos spoke last year to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, a holidaying pal of Stroll, about the possibility of going there when their relations with Horner were at rock bottom. That prospect is not dead, but nor is it hot right now.
Honda, who currently supply engines to Red Bull, are joining Aston Martin next year – another brick in Stroll’s empire-building wall.
Verstappen is pragmatic and wants to drive the best car, which will determine where he ends up
Mail Sport has been told that Jefferson Slack, a close lieutenant of Lawrence Stroll, has recently made pitches to potential investors
Verstappen’s father Jos spoke last year to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff about the possibility of going there, and that prospect is not dead
Mail Sport understands that Aston and the Verstappen camp have loosely spoken about future employment possibilities, though mostly about endurance racing. Nothing serious for now. But Stroll, for all his no-nonsense demeanour, can act with wily charm, working stealthily towards his target.
For example, when chasing Newey, he invited not only Adrian but his wife Amanda to the factory. He knew her buy-in would be helpful. Ferrari were rival pursuers, and he needed to use all his guile.
This built on the warmness accrued between Adrian and Lawrence hotel gyms as the F1 circus moved around the world – the odd word here and there. It wasn’t love at first sight. As Stroll joked of their slow-burning relationship: ‘He was on the bike, and I was on the treadmill behind him, trying to catch up.’
Monetary enticement helped ensnare Newey, too. A share in the company was a key inducement, and one which Verstappen, if he ever were to fulfil the conclusion of Stroll’s vaulting aims, would almost certainly be able to avail himself.
As for Stroll, meanwhile, let’s not forget that only the best is good enough.