Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert has made notable comments regarding Max Verstappen’s 2026 season and the potential of his Red Bull Racing teammate, Isack Hadjar. Herbert suggested that Verstappen, despite his past successes, might struggle with the new 2026 F1 cars.
Herbert praised Hadjar’s significant improvement since his debut, indicating that the Frenchman could potentially challenge Verstappen. He stated that Hadjar might even ‘beat his team leader’ in the current season.
The former driver also highlighted Verstappen’s intense competitive nature, describing it as an ‘I’m going to crush you’ mentality. Herbert advised Hadjar to ‘toughen up’ to effectively contend with this dynamic.
Isack Hadjar was officially confirmed as Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing for the 2026 Formula 1 season. He replaced Yuki Tsunoda, who moved into a reserve driver role.
Hadjar had a promising 2025 season with Racing Bulls, securing a podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix. While Hadjar has shown strong one-lap pace, he acknowledges Verstappen operates on a ‘different level on Sundays’.
Red Bull Racing has faced challenges during the 2026 season, particularly with the chassis and excess weight of their car. The team started the year with a significant performance deficit.
Despite some reduction in the performance gap, Red Bull continues to experience issues, including ‘car degradation’ during race weekends. Mercedes, meanwhile, leads both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in 2026.
Herbert also theorized that Adrian Newey, now with Aston Martin, might be entering a ‘downward spiral’ in his career. Aston Martin and Honda experienced a ‘disastrous start’ to their 2026 partnership.
Newey focused on a major upgrade package for the AMR26, which debuted at the Hungarian Grand Prix, showing some recovery. Newey has expressed satisfaction with the improved working relationship between Aston Martin and Honda.
Regarding the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, Max Verstappen stated he feels no ‘extra motivation’ despite it being Zandvoort’s last F1 race for the foreseeable future. He maintains his commitment to performing well regardless of the event’s status.
Elsewhere, Juan Pablo Montoya has criticized George Russell’s performance this season. Montoya advised Russell to focus on his own adaptation rather than Kimi Antonelli’s strong form.
Antonelli currently leads the Drivers’ Championship, and Montoya noted that his ‘likeable’ personality makes it a unique psychological challenge for Russell. Russell has admitted he needs to improve to contend for the 2026 title.
