Yesterday at 07:25
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes it is the "perfect time"
for Max Verstappen to quit Red Bull, following the shock departure
of Christian Horner. It was announced on Wednesday that Horner and
Red Bull had parted ways after over 20 years together, with Laurent
Mekies having become the Austrian outfit's new team principal and
CEO. The significant change has already been described as a "new
chapter" by Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, although
Herbert is convinced Verstappen should still leave. Verstappen has
been heavily linked to Mercedes in recent weeks, with Toto Wolff
having confirmed that talks have taken place with the four-time
world champion. When asked in a RacingNews365 interview if Horner
leaving increases the chances of Verstappen staying, Herbert
answered: "Well, it's like anything, I think, when you are
pondering on what to do, and that's exactly where Max is, and
that's any driver at any given point in their careers, you are
always going to try and look at where is the best place for me to
be able to achieve what I want to achieve, which is going out there
and winning races and hopefully winning a world championship. "And
that's what Max will be thinking. And I'm sure he's aware of what
is probably going on back at base at Red Bull, where they're at,
and what the rumours are of where others are at. "The talks that
seem to have happened [with Mercedes], I'm sure there has been a
little bit of a well, this is sort of where we think we're at, you
should come along and join us chat with Toto. That's what I would
have thought would be going on. "And then that's where, as a
driver, you'll be working out what's going to be, as I said, better
short-term, but also long-term. At the same time, Red Bull have
done remarkable things in the last 10 years, it's slightly gone
awry." Verstappen 'aware' of Red Bull changes Verstappen finds
himself 69 points adrift of Oscar Piastri and is unlikely to secure
a fifth consecutive F1 drivers' title, due to Red Bull's
troublesome RB21. Much of the team's difficulties has been pinned
on last year's exit of Adrian Newey, something Herbert is confident
Verstappen has recognised. "Like I said, Max is aware that all the
change that's happened with Adrian," added Herbert. "As I said,
repeat myself a little bit. "But you want to be in the best place
you can and I'm sure his dad has always been very vocal with
everything that's been going on at Red Bull. And is it the perfect
time for a move? Well, I think it is."
