Max Verstappen has made an unexpected return to the Formula 1 title fight, and Johnny Herbert believes it’s the worst possible scenario for McLaren. With two victories in the last three races and a second place at the Singapore Grand Prix, the Dutch driver has reduced his gap to Oscar Piastri to just 63 points. According to Herbert, the recent leadership change within Red Bull and a renewed sense of internal harmony have reignited Verstappen’s chances of fighting for the championship against Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and the McLaren team in the final six races of the season, which also include sprint events.
Herbert’s view on the Red Bull situation
Johnny Herbert, a three-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner, praised Red Bull Racing for finally listening more closely to Max Verstappen’s feedback. In his view, this has been a decisive factor in the team’s resurgence.
“Red Bull is listening more to what Max is saying now. Whatever was happening before, with the simulator drivers running their programs back at the Milton Keynes factory, it clearly wasn’t working for him. So there’s definitely been a shift. They’re now applying Max’s input more directly, and that seems to be putting them in a much stronger position.”
Red Bull resurgence raises alarm for McLaren
After the removal of Christian Horner as Red Bull team principal in July, his successor Laurent Mekies has publicly downplayed his role in the team’s recent turnaround. Nevertheless, Herbert believes that the improvement in communication and the overall working relationship between Verstappen’s camp — particularly his father Jos Verstappen — and Red Bull’s management has played a key role in the renewed competitiveness of the team.
According to Herbert, Verstappen’s return to consistent front-running form is particularly concerning for McLaren, which had previously enjoyed a performance advantage. “You can’t ignore the leadership change, with Laurent Mekies replacing Christian Horner. It seems to have created a real sense of harmony inside the team. The relationship between Max and Mekies is much closer than what existed between Max and Horner, whose constant battles with Jos Verstappen generated a lot of negative energy. The whole atmosphere has shifted in a positive way, as we’ve seen over the last two races.”
Herbert went on to add that while it’s still uncertain whether Red Bull will be competitive at every circuit, recent results have clearly shown that Verstappen and his car have become a major threat again. “It’s not guaranteed that they’ll be at the front in every single race, but their recent performances prove that the car will be a real danger. Max will keep taking points away from the two McLaren drivers, and that’s only going to increase the pressure on McLaren and their team. They had the most competitive and dominant car for a while, but now Red Bull’s change in fortune is starting to show. Unfortunately for Lando, Oscar, and McLaren, this turnaround benefits the fastest driver on the grid. You know he’s going to be a real threat in every race he enters. It’s probably the worst-case scenario for McLaren.”
McLaren’s growing concern
Herbert’s perspective on Red Bull’s resurgence is widely shared among paddock observers. The team’s recovery in form, combined with Verstappen’s renewed confidence, is putting significant pressure on McLaren as the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches its decisive phase. Verstappen’s aggressive style and consistency could make him a very difficult opponent for the papaya team in the final races.
The big question now is whether Max Verstappen still has enough time to mount a serious challenge for the championship crown, or if his late-season surge will only serve to disrupt McLaren’s path to glory. One thing is certain: the Dutch driver is back, and he’s once again proving to be one of the most dangerous competitors on the grid.
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