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Verstappen to Mercedes after all? 'He is losing respect for Red Bull'
- Ludo van Denderen
Max Verstappen was clear about it recently: He will remain active for Red Bull Racing in 2025 too, which he announced on the eve of the Austrian Grand Prix. Meanwhile, several weeks have passed and the rumours are back. Would Max Verstappen still turn his back on Red Bull, after Red Bull has been unable to deliver the fastest car for some time, while Mercedes is making strides forward? Johnny Herbert, former F1 driver and current analyst, believes Verstappen is on his way out at Red Bull.
The Briton has watched McLaren excel of late, watched Mercedes crawl out of a deep slump and Red Bull Racing, meanwhile, mostly fight against itself. " It's quite a turnaround, from a situation where they had dominated all season to now struggling to get on the podium," Herbert analysed on the website Topoffshoresportsbrooks.com.
'Verstappen can always fall back on winner's mentality'
And that should stick with the Verstappen family, the three-time GP winner believes. He believes Max and his father Jos are now looking at other teams. "There is only one place really, and that is Mercedes. Toto Wolff is desperate to get Max on the books. The stars are aligning for a move there," Herbert said.
Because, Herbert believes, Verstappen has gradually finished with everything within Red Bull. "Max sounds like a driver who is starting to lose respect for Red Bull. He is making a few mistakes. The car is not performing like it was. His frustrations come out for the world to hear. I like drivers who show passion! It is a pressure though he can carry going forward. That is what the best in sport can do, deploy a winning mentality."
This article was written in collaboration with Sophia Crothall.