The British former driver defends his compatriot
Christian Horner has been dismissed from Red Bull Racing, but as highlighted by former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, Horner’s departure does not end the ongoing speculation about Max Verstappen’s future—especially after the recent controversial remarks by Verstappen’s ‘brother-in-law’ Nelson Piquet Jr.
Johnny Herbert, the former Formula 1 driver and FIA steward known for his tough stance on Max Verstappen, has weighed in on the possibility of the four-time World Champion moving to Mercedes to join Toto Wolff’s team, potentially replacing George Russell.
“Verstappen moving to Mercedes instead of George Russell would be unfair because it is George who is delivering the results,” Herbert told escapistmagazine.com. “Kimi Antonelli is still rightly going through his growth phase—he is only 18 years old and needs time, even if he hasn’t yet given us that ‘wow’ moment. Max never needed time. Kimi Antonelli has Toto Wolff’s full support, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right decision. George is still young enough to work very well with Max, and Mercedes could replicate the dynamic we saw with the Lewis Hamilton-Nico Rosberg pairing—a duo that pushed each other hard. Having the strongest driver pairing on the grid would only be positive.”
Herbert’s remarks clearly defend his fellow British driver George Russell, whose 2025 season has been near flawless, marked by numerous standout performances even beyond what many expected from the Mercedes car.
As for Antonelli, whether he has yet produced a “wow” factor is debatable. However, his Sprint pole position in Miami—achieved on a track he had never raced before—is a remarkable feat that demonstrates his undeniable talent. Antonelli has already shown flashes of brilliance on several occasions, such as in Melbourne during the race, at Suzuka, and most notably in Montreal when he earned his first Formula 1 podium.
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