Herbert: Verstappen Shows 'Massive' Maturity After 2025 Title Decider
F1 pundit Johnny Herbert praises Max Verstappen for showing significant maturity during the 2025 season, particularly in his dignified approach to the Abu Dhabi title decider. Herbert credits fatherhood and personal growth for a 'softer' Max, though notes his fierce competitiveness remains, as seen in an incident with George Russell. This evolution comes after a season where Verstappen, voted the best driver, nearly overcame a huge points deficit to win the championship.
Former F1 driver and pundit Johnny Herbert believes Max Verstappen has "matured massively" over the past year, a transformation he calls "wonderful to see." Herbert points to the three-time champion's conduct in the high-pressure 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title decider as the clearest evidence of his growth, despite the Dutchman ultimately falling just two points short of the championship.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's evolution from a fiercely aggressive, sometimes controversial champion into a more measured competitor is a significant narrative in modern F1. His ability to channel his undeniable speed with increased strategic poise not only strengthens his own legacy but also raises the level of sportsmanship and competition at the front of the grid, setting a compelling stage for his rivalry with Lando Norris and others in the new 2026 era.
The details:
- Herbert identified the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP as a critical "acid test." Despite intense speculation that Verstappen might employ tactical hold-up strategies to influence the title fight between himself, Norris, and Oscar Piastri, he instead focused on his own race, dominating to take his eighth win of the season.
- A Softer Side?: Herbert suggests that becoming a father in May 2025 may have contributed to a "softer" Max, indicating a shift in perspective off the track.
- The Old Fire Remains: The pundit notes that Verstappen's competitive fire is far from extinguished, citing his wheel-banging collision with George Russell at the 2025 Spanish GP—an incident for which Verstappen accepted blame and received a penalty.
- Herbert's observations carry added weight given his history with the Verstappen camp; his past criticism of Max's driving drew public rebukes from Jos Verstappen, Max's father.
The big picture:
The 2025 season showcased Verstappen at perhaps his most complete. He mounted a remarkable comeback from 104 points behind to nearly steal the title, earning recognition as the best driver of the year in official polls. His late-season comment that he would have won the championship earlier in a McLaren was seen as blunt but accurate by figures like 1996 champion Damon Hill, underscoring his undiminished self-belief.
What's next:
Verstappen enters the 2026 season and a new partnership between Red Bull and Ford powertrains without the crown for the first time since 2021. This new challenge, coupled with his demonstrated personal growth, sets the scene for a fascinating chapter. The question is whether this more mature version of Verstappen, still possessing his relentless speed, can dethrone Norris and McLaren and reclaim his position at the very top of Formula 1.