Former racer and ex-FIA steward Johnny Herbert believes that, should Max Verstappen make a transfer, Aston Martin is best positioned to secure him. While Herbert has often been critical of the Dutchman in the past, he now praises him as the best driver on the grid. He argues that Aston Martin, with a little Saudi capital, could provide the best home for Verstappen.
It is well known that Max Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028. However, the media is rife with rumors about the reigning world champion. As he focuses on improving his current team and car, experts are freely speculating. Based on the reports, it seems only a matter of time before the Limburger announces his departure from Red Bull.
“It gets interesting once the Saudis get involved with Aston Martin,” says Herbert. “If you have the money, you should be willing to pay anything to secure Verstappen. He is still by far the best driver – faster than McLaren, which actually has a better car. But if Aston Martin has preparations for 2026 in order, you could argue that they will be the next team to beat.”
What Can Lawrence Stroll Achieve?
“That being said, it won’t be an easy task,” Herbert continued. “If Verstappen and Newey are at their best, it will be really difficult to beat them, but that’s not guaranteed. Verstappen will be wondering what the best team for him is and when the best time to leave is. Personally, I hope he makes the right choice – I would like to see him back at the top in the near future. In the current season, we naturally want him and Oscar Piastri to compete for the title; that’s only good for the sport.”
Herbert rates Aston Martin’s chances of signing Verstappen highly. Not only because of the presence of Adrian Newey and engine supplier Honda, but also because team owner Lawrence Stroll is a shrewd businessman. “Stroll is smart enough to make Aston Martin a winning team,” Herbert noted. “If he seeks some rapprochement with Saudi Arabia (which is already the title sponsor of the British team with Aramco) and has the best driver, it could just work out. He will always want to keep a stake in the team, as he is and remains a fan. Maybe Saudi Arabia gets a fifty percent stake or less in the team – I don’t know,” Herbert concluded.
