JOHNNY HERBERT URGES RED BULL TO POACH MERCEDES PRODIGY KIMI ANTONELLI
Max Verstappen questions his F1 future at Suzuka while Johnny Herbert identifies Kimi Antonelli as the Red Bull heir.
Mercedes has spent years watching Red Bull’s driver lineup, hoping to scout Lewis Hamilton’s replacement. Now, the tables could soon turn.
Johnny Herbert thinks Kimi Antonelli has what it takes to step in for Max Verstappen if Verstappen decides he’s done with Formula 1.
During the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen was pretty open about his doubts. He’s not thrilled about the direction F1’s heading, especially with the new battery-focused racing. He didn’t hide his feelings. “I don’t get upset about it,” he said. “I don’t get disappointed or frustrated anymore. You know how I feel; I don’t need to say it again. There’s a lot I need to figure out for myself.”
He said even more the next day, “I’m thinking about everything inside this paddock. Is it worth it? Or do I actually enjoy being home with my family and friends more, since I’m not enjoying the sport so much?”
But the funny thing is, you can say whatever you want in the end, your actions say more. Just a day after the Japanese GP, Verstappen was back to doing what he loves: racing. While his teammates were testing tyres at Suzuka, he was tearing up the Nürburgring in a Mercedes GT3 car and absolutely loving it.
So, if Verstappen leaves, where does that leave Red Bull?
Technically, Verstappen’s contracted through 2028, but let’s be real, if he wants out, Red Bull isn’t going to force him to stay. They already have a solid backup: Isack Hadjar, who’s been impressive in his first season, but honestly, he’s not Max. There’s also Arvid Lindblad, who shows promise for the future. Still, Red Bull needs more than unproven talent; they need a star.
This is where Johnny Herbert suggests they look to Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. Right now, Antonelli is racing against George Russell for a shot at leading Mercedes. But at Red Bull, Antonelli would get the top spot all to himself.
“There’s always another one coming up. Right now, it’s Kimi,” Herbert told RN365. “He’s the next generation. Will he be better than Max? Maybe.”
Herbert sees a pattern: Ayrton Senna set the bar, then Lewis Hamilton arrived and achieved what Schumacher did, and then Verstappen raised it again. The sport’s best drivers keep taking things to the next level. He thinks Antonelli could be the next replacement, the new “wow” driver.
Even so, Herbert would rather see Verstappen keep racing with Red Bull. “Yes, he’d be missed, absolutely,” Herbert said. “I hope he stays put. I don’t want him to leave. I love watching him. He’s got that ‘wow factor.’ There are times I just think, ‘wow, I couldn’t do that.’”
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
LEWIS HAMILTON DEMANDS IMMEDIATE FERRARI ENGINE UPGRADE FOLLOWING SIXTH-PLACE MIAMI FINISH
Discover why Lewis Hamilton wants to abandon Ferrari's simulator while pushing the FIA for crucial engine development freedom.
We really need an engine upgrade. Right now, it’s nearly impossible for us to keep up with Red Bull and Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton said after the Miami race.
They both have a huge edge over us, but honestly, the rest of our car might be the best out there. Fix this engine issue, and we’ll have a real shot at fighting for wins.
This comes as the FIA is about to decide which manufacturers get extra development freedom under the ADUO rules. Toto Wolff wants only Honda to get that, but Hamilton thinks Ferrari should be included, too.
Even though Ferrari rolled out major upgrades in Miami, Hamilton said the others made bigger strides.
The team put a lot of effort into these changes; it’s progress, but everyone else moved forward as well, he said.
I heard McLaren’s updates actually worked better than expected. We didn’t see that kind of jump. Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull approach the front wing differently from us. Just look at their design compared to ours; it’s clearly not the same. I don’t know if that’s the key difference, but I want to understand what their concept does.
On the track, the results were disappointing.
Finishing sixth doesn’t sit well with me, Hamilton admitted. That’s not where I want to be.
He also brought up issues with Ferrari’s simulator.
To be honest, I feel like the simulator is pushing me the wrong way, Hamilton said. Maybe it’s time to set it aside, at least for now.
Charles Leclerc, his teammate, looked faster and almost made the podium, but a late spin cost him big.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur doesn’t think the engine is the whole story behind Ferrari’s struggles.
It's about the whole package, not only the engine, he said.
We need to improve everything. The fight for the title can last until the final race. What matters is having the speed to go for wins.
Yes, there are issues, but we know what needs fixing.
