MAX VERSTAPPEN is closing in on a deal to join Mercedes, according to one former Formula One icon.
Verstappen, 26, has been linked with an exit from Red Bull amid the controversy surrounding team principal Christian Horner.
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Johnny Herbert has revealed Max Verstappen is close to agreeing a deal with MercedesCredit: Getty
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Verstappen (left) has been linked with an exit from Red Bull following the sexting controversy surrounding Christian Horner (right)Credit: EPA
British racing legend Johnny Herbert, 59, has revealed he has heard that a deal for the three-time world champion to switch teams is “close”, but thinks Red Bull should do what they can to prevent it.
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Rumours around a potential exit for Verstappen come amid the storm engulfing Red Bull Racing in the wake of allegations of controlling behaviour made by a female staffer against Horner.
And Herbert has made it clear he thinks the storm itself is bad for the sport of F1 while discussing Verstappen’s future.
He told The Sun: “It’s not a good thing for F1 with the whole thing going on and the belated heat on it.”
The three-time Grand Prix winner who raced in F1 between 1989 and 2000, argued: “It doesn’t help the situation for Red Bull who have the best driver in the world at the present time.
“And they’re very close to pushing [Max Verstappen] out of the team, I’ve heard they are getting quite close with the deal with Mercedes.”
Herbert suggested that Red Bull would be “stupid” to let the best driver in F1 leave their team as a result of the fallout.
Speaking to us via sports betting website Betideas.com, he said: “It seems like a stupid thing to do, their biggest asset is not the Christian Horner show.”
He added that it would be “crazy” for the F1 chief to stay due to his “arrogance”.
The embattled Red Bull boss strongly denies all the allegations and was cleared of misconduct by an internal probe on February 28.
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However, only 24 hours later a string of sexually suggestive texts between Horner and his female accuser were leaked – re-igniting the scandal.
Should Verstappen leave for Mercedes he would likely be replacing Lewis Hamilton who announced he would be leaving the Silver Arrows to join Ferrari at the end of the season.
