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.’”
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
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.
