Sport nationMAX VERSTAPPEN’S FUTURE: FORMER F1 DRIVER WARNS RED BULL OF ASTON MARTIN THREAT
The future of Max Verstappen has been the subject of much speculation in recent months, with the Red Bull driver linked to a potential move to Aston Martin. While Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes that the Dutchman may be tempted to join Aston Martin, particularly with the team’s new partnership with Honda and the arrival of Adrian Newey.
Herbert, who competed in F1 between 1989 and 2000, thinks that Verstappen would be foolish to ignore the opportunity to join Aston Martin, especially if Red Bull struggles with its new power unit in 2026. “There’s rumours that it’s been tougher than they [Red Bull] ever expected and it hasn’t been as positive as they were expecting,” Herbert said in an interview. “That makes your decision much easier when you know that it’s not going quite to plan with the power unit itself, and then you know that the power unit that you were successful with is going to be at Aston Martin as well, along with Adrian Newey.”
Herbert’s comments come after it was announced that Honda would be partnering with Aston Martin from 2026, with Newey joining the team as its managing technical partner. The move has sparked speculation that Verstappen could join Aston Martin, particularly given his success with Honda-powered Red Bull in recent years.
Verstappen himself has stated that he is “all about winning,” and Herbert believes that the Dutchman will do whatever it takes to achieve success. “Max is no fool,” Herbert said. “Max is going to want to place himself in the best place that will give him that chance of winning races in a world championship.”
While Red Bull has insisted that Verstappen is not going anywhere, Herbert thinks that the team’s struggles with its new power unit could change the situation. “If all those elements aren’t working where he’s at present, as I’ve heard on the Ford front, and an opportunity came at Aston Martin, I would be shocked if Max wouldn’t bite and go for it,” Herbert said.
Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull is believed to include performance-related exit clauses, which could allow him to leave the team if it fails to deliver a competitive car. Herbert thinks that this could be a key factor in Verstappen’s decision-making process. “Champions I’ve known have always had a performance clause,” Herbert said. “Contracts don’t mean anything if performance is not there.”
As the F1 paddock continues to speculate about Verstappen’s future, one thing is clear: the Dutchman will do whatever it takes to achieve success. Whether that means staying with Red Bull or joining Aston Martin remains to be seen, but Herbert’s comments have certainly added fuel to the fire.
Amina Umar
Sport nation
