Former F1 steward Johnny Herbert once again suggested that Red Bull and Ford were struggling with their power unit project ahead of the new regulations in 2026, something that could force 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen out of the team.

Red Bull will build their own engine for the fi🔥rst time in 2026, when the new technical rules are ♉introduced.

For 2026, all F1 power units will be run on sustainable fuels ℱwhile the MGU-H e💦lement has been removed.

Red Bull decided to kick start their ow✃n engine programme - ‘Red Bull Powertrains’ - after Honꦆda’s decision to leave the sport.

The Japanese manufacturer quickly regretted tﷺhat decision, announcing their cℱomeback with Aston Martin.

In March, Herbert hinted that Red Bull were on ๊the back foot with their new engine.

In an interview with , Herberꦉt reiterated that he ‘keeps hearing’ that the new engine project is experiencing “struggles.”

“There’s always potential for Verstappen to reunite with Honda at Aston Martin. The rumours are out there,” Herbert said of Verꦍstappen’s F1 future.

“It wouldn’t surprise me that he’s going to be looking at th💙e future and what’s going to be happening in 2026 and beyond.

“That will 🔯influence what decision he makes. I keep hearing through the rumour mill that there are strug🥀gles with the new Ford engine project at Red Bull.

“And normally these rumours hꦿave substance. But we won’t know until we ac൲tually get on the track.

“Now from Max’s point of view, that’s very different because I’m sure he will be very aware of what is going on, what is going well and what is not going so well. When he sees what is not going well, will that force him into jumping ship? The jumping ship rumo✤urs are oꦓn the cards.”

“Early negotiations” with Mercedes, not Aston

Verstappen’s F1 fuꦰture has been a hot topic since the start of last yeaജr.

The off-track drama involving Chr📖istian Horner led to intense speculation about Verstappen potentially leaving t꧟he team to join Mercedes.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was looking for a 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton replacement.

The Austrian went public with his interest in Ver🔜stappen despite the reigning world champion being contracted at Red Bull until the end of 2028.

With Verstappen unwilling to leave Red Bull, Mercedes gave 18-year-old 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Andrea Kimi Antonelli a chance alongside 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell.

🦋Mercedes’ inte🀅rest in Verstappen likely remains, particularly with Russell out of contract at the end of 2025.

However, Wolff has inꦕsisted that he’s happy with his current driver line-up.

Herbert feels any “early negotiations” that have taken place would have been with Mercedes rather than Asto🐈n Martin.

“Aston Martin is an obvious candidate for ♉Verstappen. But I know Toto has been courting him quietly and for a long while,” Herbert added. “I think any early negotiations would have been with Mercedes rather t♔han Aston Martin.

“But there is that relationship obviously with Adrian Newey, who knows how much Lawrence Stroll wants to win and who will know if they have, they 🍃got the right power unit with Honda for 2026.

“But the rumour mill is very much that Mercedes is the best option. But is that quick 🍎enough for next year? That is what drivers are looking at, how quickly a team can get them into a car that will give them that first, second, third or fourth World Championship. It’ll be fascinating to see exactly what happens.

“But Max is the man who has all the ♌cards, all the knowledge and all the understanding of what’s happening and where he’s at♕ the present time. He has all the aces. He’s just got to choose which one he goes for. Who wouldn’t want him?”