Max Verstappen told he could struggle with 2026 F1 cars as Red Bull ace warned | F1 | Sport
Max Verstappen has been warned that there is a chance he could struggle to adapt to the new F1 cars, with Johnny Herbert suggesting Lewis Hamilton’s struggles in the ground-effect era as an example for the Red Bull racer to consider.
Verstappen dominated the ground-effect era between 2022 and 2025, following up his maiden Drivers’ Championship title in 2021 with three consecutive crowns, and increasing his win tally to 71, above all drivers in F1 history, except for Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.
The 28-year-old was unfortunate to miss out on a record-equalling fifth successive crown in 2025, too, finishing just two points behind eventual champion Lando Norris, despite spending the majority of the year in machinery that paled in comparison to McLaren’s dominant MCL39 machine.
Heading into the new technical regulations, Verstappen is widely regarded as the class of the field, and he will be the dictating factor in the flow of the 2026 driver market. However, according to former F1 star and FIA steward Herbert, there is a chance that the Dutchman’s magic might not be so prevalent in the new cars.
“There is always a chance that you don’t quite fit a new car,” Herbert told JeffBet. “Max Verstappen is only human. Yes, he’s the best on the grid at this current time, but it doesn’t always mean he’s the fastest on the race track.
“That’s down to the performance of the car, or if you don’t fit the car. Like with Lewis Hamilton last year, he didn’t fit his car and lost his speed. There is a chance that new regulations could favour a certain type of driver. Lando Norris could benefit from the new car and grow even more as a driver, similar to Max after 2021.
“There’s always a chance of a driver maturing and becoming more complete if a new car suits their style. Can I see the new regulations not benefiting Max? Yes, because there is a human element to Formula One, there are inconsistencies, and the best drivers try to reduce those inconsistencies. The likes of Max, Lewis and Lando will have to adapt this year, and external influences can affect the championship.”
While Herbert placed question marks over Verstappen’s performance, most of the uncertainty within the Red Bull camp surrounds their new in-house, bespoke power units, built in collaboration with American auto manufacturer Ford, and the team’s ability to give their marquee driver a car capable of fighting for a World Championship.
