Aston Martin is no longer completely shying away from the speculation that Adrian Newey might be about to join their team based at Silverstone.
Ever since the 65-year-old engineer decided to part ways with Red Bull, rumors have been rife, with his friend and manager, Eddie Jordan, disclosing that every team in the pitlane had made a bid for his championship-winning expertise.
Now, several credible media outlets and sources suggest that Aston Martin has secured the deal, with reports indicating Newey has agreed to a contract worth $26 million annually.
The official announcement of this deal is expected to come before next weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
When questioned, an Aston Martin representative did not confirm the reports, but they also did not dismiss them.
"Adrian has been linked to several teams and will add value to whichever project he chooses," the spokesperson stated.
They added, "Adrian is just one of the big names linked to Aston Martin's very exciting project, but we have nothing to announce."
Simultaneously, team owner Lawrence Stroll shared with Bloomberg that he would be "very excited" if Newey joins their team from 2025.
"I certainly hope so," the Canadian billionaire remarked.
He elaborated, "Adrian and I have been talking not only for months but actually for years. He is clearly the most talented and gifted individual in Formula 1 based on his track record and history. So I'd be very excited for Adrian to join our team, as I think every other Formula 1 team on the grid would feel exactly the same," Stroll continued.
When probed about whether he was doing everything possible to secure Newey's commitment, Stroll admitted, "You can definitely assume that."