The future of Verstappen
‘He stays. He’s not leaving. He’s taking a sabbatical year. He just wants to change teams’. The future of Max Verstappen in Formula 1 continues to be a hot topic within the paddock, especially in these weeks when the Circus is stopped due to the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs. The fate of the four-time Dutch world champion is still unclear. Verstappen’s attitude seems to increasingly suggest an actual desire to leave Formula 1 for at least a year, focusing on his family and other races such as those in the GT category and endurance in general.
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But is this really the thought of Red Bull’s #3? Not according to Johnny Herbert, former driver and steward who has now become a respected pundit within the paddock. In an interview given to the site Vision4Sport, the former Benetton, Stewart and Sauber driver among others suggested that in reality Verstappen is ‘bluffing’ in his statements and does not really want to end his F1 adventure at the end of the 2026 season.
Bluff or reality?
“If you are really thinking about leaving F1, then I believe you have already made your decision – Herbert commented – because if you think negatively it is likely you end up saying: ‘Yes, I’m leaving, I’m going somewhere else’. But what all his statements make me think is that he actually does not want to leave. [F1] gives him the chance to prove his worth and it is the most important championship. At the moment it is not the perfect situation, he is aware of that. But his challenge is still to win the Championship“.
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“The Nürburgring Nordschleife? People only remember who won the world title in a given year. I believe Max would regret leaving F1. Would he really turn his back on the most prestigious formula in the world? I don’t think so. For him to leave when he still has so much to offer would not make sense. It’s not just about what he offers to a team or the Formula 1 bubble in the paddock; it’s about all the fans around the world who can’t wait to see him on track. I wouldn’t want to see him go. He still has a lot to offer and still has that ‘wow’ factor“, Herbert concluded.
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