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.
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.
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.”
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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.
He said: “It seems like a stupid thing to do, their biggest asset is not the Christian Horner show.”
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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.
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.
SCANDAL… LAP BY LAP
FEBRUARY 5: A Dutch newspaper reports a female Red Bull employee has made serious allegations of “inappropriate, controlling behaviour” about Horner to parent company Red Bull GmbH.
FEB 9: Horner is quizzed for nine hours by the lawyer hired by Red Bull to investigate.
FEB 15: He denies the allegations and says they are a distraction for the team.
FEB 15: F1 says it hopes the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process.
FEB 26: Red Bull’s engine partner Ford says it is increasingly frustrated by the team’s handling of the complaint.
FEB 28: Horner is cleared of all wrongdoing. The employee is said to have the right of appeal.
FEB 29: Horner says he is pleased the investigation is over.
FEB 29: WhatsApp texts and pictures claimed to be between Horner and the employee are sent to journalists and F1.
MARCH 1: Horner refuses to comment on what he calls “anonymous speculation from unknown sources”.
MAR 2: Horner and wife Geri are pictured hand-in-hand, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner says before the race: “It’s been very testing for my family but we are very strong and our focus is on this race.”
MAR 3: Verstappen’s dad Jos, claims Red Bull is in “danger of being torn apart” if Horner stays in the job. He denies being the source of the WhatsApp leak, saying: “It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
MAR 6: Max Verstappen sides with his dad in the row.
MAR 7: Horner says he wants to draw a line under the scandal and hails Geri’s support — as Red Bull suspends the employee.
MAR 15: Horner’s accuser allegedly launches an appeal against the investigation that saw the Red Bull chief cleared.
MAR 16: The female employee lodges a complaint against Horner with the FIA.
MAR 17: Horner reportedly agrees to ‘public ceasefire’ with senior Red Bull Racing management to quell the drama
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
