Max to Aston: why he'd be up for the challenge

Max to Aston: why he'd be up for the challenge

Author: Motor Sport July 16, 2026 Duration: 50:32

Max Verstappen may be the best driver in Formula 1 at the moment. So why would he even consider moving to current backmarker Aston Martin?


Hear Mark Hughes' compelling case in the latest episode of the Motor Sport F1 Show, as he sets out why the four-time champion is considering his future, and why he'd pick the Silverstone-based team over the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.


There's also Fernando Alonso to consider: what happens to him if he's displaced by Verstappen? Mark has an intriguing suggestion.


But it's not just silly season on the agenda ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix which will demand more electrical energy than the current generation of cars can provide. Can Spa provide a great race, even if cars spend much of the lap recharging their batteries?


Mark and presenter Bryn Lucas also discuss who will win the team-mate batle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, now that they both seem to be in tune with their Ferraris. How do they compare with the greatest team-mates in F1 history?


Plus your questions answered: What if Toto Wolff had signed Verstappen for Mercedes in 2014; and what's really happening when drivers tweak the torque map and differential on their cars?


Subscribe now for every weekly episode and tell us what you want to know from Mark. Send us a message on social media or find this podcast at https://go.motorsportmagazine.com/4gLZJPr and drop your questions in the comments. He'll answer a selection of the best every week.


Read Mark's column every Wednesday at https://go.motorsportmagazine.com/4gLZJPr


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Each week, the Motor Sport F1 Show with Mark Hughes cuts through the noise of the Formula 1 paddock. Hosted by Bryn Lucas and featuring the unparalleled insight of grand prix editor Mark Hughes, this podcast offers a clear-eyed analysis of what truly defines the sport’s relentless narrative. The conversation moves beyond mere headlines and podium finishes to examine the technical innovations, strategic gambles, and human stories that decide races. Regular guests join the discussion, providing depth to the latest events and previewing the critical topics on the horizon. It’s a dialogue for those who appreciate that F1 is as much about engineering genius and political maneuvering as it is about pure speed. This Motor Sport production delivers authoritative context, whether breaking down a controversial ruling, a rival team’s sudden performance leap, or the long-term implications of a new regulation. For listeners seeking a sophisticated and nuanced take, this show serves as an essential weekly debrief. The feed also features other series from Motor Sport, with contributions from iconic figures in the racing world, making it a comprehensive hub for motorsport audio. Tune in for a consistently detailed and engaging perspective on the world’s fastest competition.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Motor Sport F1 Show with Mark Hughes
Podcast Episodes
Why Fernando Alonso still has what it takes to be F1 champion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:47
How old is too old for an F1 driver? Fernando Alonso says he’s ready to race on into his late forties and Mark Hughes says he still has the talent, the adaptability and the burning desire to fight for a world championshi…
F1 is being ruined: it's right to speak out [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:39
As F1 announces changes to its rules in a bid to improve the racing, Mark Hughes and special guest Matt Bishop explain what changes we're likely to see and why fans should keep criticising the series when it delivers art…
F1's 2026 relaunch: rule changes & engine upgrades unlocked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:14
This week's crunch F1 meeting looks likely to alter the energy split of the new power units: Mark Hughes examines who will be the big winners and losers, and asks what F1’s crisis of its own making says about the state o…
Why new F1 rules have punished Max Verstappen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:54
Two top F1 drivers punished by the new regulations — with two very different reactions. Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc can’t race the way that they want to and Verstappen is threatening to quit. But Leclerc has built…
F1's youngest world champion? Why Antonelli is ready for title fight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:55
Leading the F1 title race at the age of just 19, Kimi Antonelli would be the youngest world champion in history if he tops the table at the end of the season.He's not just there by luck either. As Mark Hughes explains in…
Newey and Aston Martin: the real story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:10
It's all change at Aston Martin's F1 team — but all is not as it seems. Mark Hughes cuts through the noise to explain why Adrian Newey is set to step down as team principal; the clash at the top of the team that started…
Why F1's found its happy place with the 2026 rules [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:17
Formula 1 found its happy place in Shanghai, says Mark Hughes. Can it recreate that sensational racing for the rest of the season? We look at why the Chinese Grand Prix was so much better than in the Australian round.Als…
Under-fire F1 is set to change rules after just two races [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:41
One race into the season and Formula 1 is being criticised from fans and drivers alike over its "flawed" racing and safety fears under new rules.Now, change looks to be imminent, with F1 expected to tweak to its regulati…
Why Aston F1 disaster reveals Newey's ambition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:31
It would be easy to mock Aston Martin's disastrous start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, especially as its engine troubles are set to see the team retire early from the Australian Grand Prix. But, these early issues are si…
Has Ferrari found the cleverest trick on the F1 grid? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:48
The clever Ferrari design innovations revealed in F1 testing, plus: Is F1 about to water down its green ambitions to reduce lift-and-coasting in races? Mark reveals his early championship predictions, and your questions…