‘Max Verstappen is not any idiot – shifting to Aston Martin makes complete sense,’ says ex-F1 star

Max Verstappen’s future with Red Bull has been scrutinised over the past 12 months and Aston Martin have previously been speculated to be ready to launch a major offer to the world champion

Max Verstappen has been told it makes “total sense” for him to join Aston Martin by former F1 star Johnny Herbert.

The four-time world champion’s future at Red Bull has been under the microscope for the previous 12 months with various rumours of discontent in the team and interest from elsewhere, namely from Mercedes and Aston Martin.

Aston Martin have emerged as an incredibly ambitious team and their recent acquisition of former Red Bull chief technical director Adrian Newey is a massive coup in their attempts to challenge for podiums and potential race wins in the coming years.

Speaking to CasinoApps.com, three-time F1 Grand Prix winner Herbert said that a move to the Silverstone team would be a good change for Verstappen, he said: “It will be all about the package. Max knows very much how the inner sanctum works at Red Bull.

“But there is a change now because the relationship that Red Bull have had with Honda, which has been very positive, has ended. From 2026 it’s a different scenario with Ford.

“There’s rumours that it’s been tougher than they ever expected and it hasn’t been as positive as they were expecting. 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 the Aston Martin as well along with Adrian Newey.

“It makes total sense [for Verstappen to join Aston Martin]. Max is no fool. Max is going to be wanting to place himself in the best place that will give him that chance of winning races in a world championship.”

Red Bull are set to end their successful partnership with Honda at the end of the 2025 season, with Red Bull to enter a technical partnership with Ford for the new regulation changes. Herbert continued to cast doubt on Verstappen’s future with the Milton Keynes team if the new powertrain doesn’t prove as effective.

“If all those elements aren’t working where he’s at the present time, 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.

“Because he knows very well that potentially, with Adrian and with the Honda, that Aston Martin will be the place to be.

“Would you give up the place to be just to stay at something that’s been good to you over the last couple of years? Racing drivers don’t work like that.

“Max doesn’t work like that. Max is there to win. And as he said over this year, you know, it’s all about winning. That’s exactly what he wants to do.”

Herbert added that despite Verstappen being under contract at Red Bull until 2028, the four-time world champion may have a get-out option.

He continued: “Christian has said Max is not going anywhere. I know he’s got the contract until 2028 but again contracts don’t mean anything if performance is not there. Champions who I’ve known have always had a performance clause.”