Herbert: Is Verstappen Immune to Rival Intimidation?

Johnny Herbert questions whether any F1 driver can turn the tables on Max Verstappen and shift the power balance on track.

Johnny Herbert wonders if any driver will manage to stand up to Max Verstappen as George Russell did in the media following on-track tensions, or even succeed in intimidating him—something usually mastered by the reigning four-time F1 world champion.

“What was entertaining last year was that Max Verstappen played the game and intimidated everyone on the track and with the comments he made about every driver,” said the former driver and now ex-FIA steward to Sky Sports.

“But they all started to push back, they all began to stand up to him, and George Russell was one of those who did.

“I think this sport needs someone who challenges another driver over comments made about what happened on track—that’s what they should do. They need to respect each other, and sometimes, they show that respect by standing up and saying, ‘No, that’s not the right thing to do,’ as Russell did in front of the press.”

“And I think that’s a good strength, a very, very good strength to have, because as much as Verstappen always wants to intimidate everyone, suddenly there’s a question mark—can another driver intimidate him in that particular corner? On that particular lap? At that specific moment in the championship?”

Lando Norris has fallen into Verstappen’s trap several times during races, but Herbert believes the McLaren F1 driver won’t be caught again: “It’s almost like question marks have started forming in his mind at the moment.”

“But Verstappen is so confident and so in control of everything happening around him. I think Lando Norris is learning to ask that question and probably sees what everyone else does when they stand up to Verstappen.”