Johnny Herbert: Max Verstappen to McLaren ‘makes sense’ as Red Bull face losing their biggest asset
Three-time Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert believes Red Bull are heading towards a difficult period, warning that the potential loss of Max Verstappen could leave the team in a “real predicament.”
Speaking to Vision4Sport, Herbert said: “Red Bull are facing a real predicament with everybody they have lost and are losing and potentially losing the biggest asset of all in Max Verstappen.
“It's becoming an issue for them.”
He added that the team’s long-standing identity is beginning to fade, with their dominance no longer as convincing as it once was.
“The success that has come their way for many years now is starting to fizzle out, crumble if you like,” Herbert explained.
“And at the moment, the machine of Red Bull it's not working as it should.”
Verstappen and Lambiase bond remains key
A major factor in Verstappen’s future, according to Herbert, is his relationship with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who will be leaving Red Bull for McLaren in 2028.
“Max has said in the past how important that is to have that someone you can trust. Trust is a big thing when it comes to everything that happens in an F1 car,” he said.
Herbert compared the dynamic to Michael Schumacher’s famous move from Benetton to Ferrari, where key personnel followed him.
“That’s what Max and Lambiase have got at the moment. They've got that relationship that is very, very strong.”
He added: “With all that, I'd be very surprised if they didn't want to work with each other again.”
McLaren move ‘logical’ for Verstappen
Herbert believes a switch to McLaren would be a natural next step for the Dutchman, especially given the team’s recent progress.
“It's the logical one with the potential that it had,” he said.
“Now you see what they're producing at the moment, and it would be the right place to go because they seem to be the car that is dominating.”
He also suggested McLaren could offer Verstappen more than just F1, including opportunities in endurance racing.
“McLaren have a hypercar. So could that be part of any package that they might offer Max at Le Mans for example as well as still doing Formula 1? Maybe.”
Herbert warned that even McLaren’s current drivers would not be safe if Verstappen became available.
“It's happened before. Frank Williams and Nigel Mansell is a prime example. They couldn't do a deal,” he said, referencing past examples in F1.
“Damon Hill was told in the year he won the World Championship during the season that he wasn't going to be with the team for the next year. So, it's not new.
“So, you're never guaranteed just by winning that you are going to be the man that they want in the seat.”
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Sabbatical an option for Verstappen
Finally, Herbert raised the possibility of Verstappen stepping away from F1 altogether, at least temporarily.
“This could be something that Max could seriously think about; the hypercar at Le Mans, the WEC series is something else,” he said.
“Does he do a sabbatical between doing WEC with McLaren? That could be an interesting one.”
Vision4Sport Events has announced a new collaboration with the BWT Alpine Formula One Team ahead of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.
The partnership will see Vision4Sport offer an exclusive Monaco race weekend experience from the heart of Port Hercules.
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