Herbert: “Verstappen could race in the WEC with McLaren in 2027”

The hypothesis of former driver Max Verstappen at the end of the disappointing Japanese Grand Prix did not completely close the door to the hypothesis of retirement – perhaps temporary – from F1 in light of a discipline that no longer entertains him. The four-time world champion will be able to get out of the contract that binds him to Red Bull by taking advantage of the clause that will free him in the summer if he is not first or second in the Drivers’ World Championship, a rather remote hypothesis in light of the current ‘competitiveness’ of the Red Bull RB22. Across the Channel, Verstappen has already been ‘off’ – obviously by his own choice – from the 2027 starting grid and according to Johnny Herbert, McLaren has all it takes to offer the Dutchman everything he ‘needs’, i.e. a WEC program for 2027 and a seat in F1 in 2028 just when Gianpiero Lambiase’s adventure as Chief Racing Officer can also begin at McLaren. “It is positive to see F1 drivers competing in other categories, Alonso was a new ‘pioneer’ in this sense – the words of Herbert reached by Vision4Sport – Verstappen could consider the possibility of racing in the WEC in 2027 with McLaren which has a Hypercar programme, perhaps even just the 24 hours of Le Mans. Then in 2028 he could return to racing in F1 with the aim of bringing McLaren back into vogue”.