Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has weighed in on the speculation surrounding Max Verstappen’s future, suggesting that the Dutchman could leave Red Bull to join Aston Martin in a move that would reunite him with Honda and Adrian Newey.
Honda is set to become Aston Martin’s power unit supplier starting in 2026, aligning with the introduction of new technical regulations. Meanwhile, Newey officially took on his role as Aston Martin’s managing technical partner on March 3, further fueling rumors of a potential Verstappen switch.
Red Bull, on the other hand, has chosen to develop its own powertrains for the next era of Formula 1, with technical backing from Ford. However, reports suggest that the Milton Keynes-based team is facing challenges in preparing for the transition, raising concerns about its competitiveness.
Herbert: Verstappen Should Consider Aston Martin
Herbert has heard similar speculation and believes Verstappen should seriously consider moving to Aston Martin if it provides him with a better shot at securing more championship titles.
“There are rumors that it’s been tougher than Red Bull expected, and the results haven’t been as positive as they were hoping for,” Herbert told CasinoApps.
“That makes the decision easier when you know things aren’t going as planned with the power unit, and then you see that the engine you previously won with is going to be in an Aston Martin, alongside Adrian Newey.
“It makes complete sense. Max is no fool—he will position himself where he has the best chance of winning races and fighting for world championships.”
Verstappen’s Future Hinges on Performance
Earlier this year, Verstappen was linked to a massive $1 billion offer from Aston Martin, a rumor the team firmly denied. However, with Red Bull set to power its own cars for the first time in F1 history, 2026 could be a challenging year for the reigning champions.
Developing a competitive F1 power unit from scratch is a daunting task, especially when rivals like Ferrari and Mercedes have decades of experience in engine manufacturing. If Red Bull struggles and Aston Martin emerges as a stronger contender, Herbert believes Verstappen could make the move despite his current contract running through 2028.
“If things don’t work out where he is now—especially on the Ford side—and an opportunity opens at Aston Martin, I’d be shocked if Max didn’t take it,” Herbert added.
“He knows that with Adrian and Honda in the mix, Aston Martin could become the Formula One team to beat.
“Would you walk away from the best opportunity just to stay loyal to what has worked in the past? Racing drivers don’t think that way. Max certainly doesn’t. He’s here to win.
“Christian [Horner] has said Max isn’t going anywhere. But contracts don’t mean much if the performance isn’t there. Champions always have performance-related exit clauses.”
As the 2025 and 2026 F1 seasons approach, all eyes will be on Red Bull and Aston Martin to see how their respective projects unfold—and whether Verstappen will remain loyal to Red Bull or seek a new challenge.
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