Former F1 race winner, Sky Sports pundit and the paddock’s favourite Essex cheeky chappy Johnny Herbert has had his say on the Abu Dhabi debacle, the future of F1 and the argument regarding who is F1’s GOAT.
In an interview with Betway, Herbert was asked where the sport stands after the controversial end to 2021.
“It was a real shame what happened at the end of last season.
“Formula 1 was in a fantastic place because of the wonderful battle between Lewis [Hamilton] and Max [Verstappen] throughout the season. There was a huge build-up to that final race and the hype around the sport was as big as it has been for a while.
“And then we saw that very strange decision from the race director and I think a lot of people who had been so excited throughout the season suddenly questioned what they’d been watching. It was so disappointing to have built that audience and then for the sport to let itself down like that.”
Whilst many pundits have toed the line or aimed to remain impartial, the former Benetton driver has been one of the most outspoken critics of the now infamous 58th lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Just in case anyone has been living under a rock for the past three months, Michael Masi failed to correctly apply safety-car rules in order to give one final lap of racing, and Verstappen then went on to secure a maiden drivers’ title by passing seven-time world champion Hamilton on the final lap of the final race.
Masi has since been removed from the role of race director amid a personnel reshuffle and changes to the ‘refereeing process’ after the FIA opened an inquiry into events at the Yas Marina Circuit, and Herbert believes that those measures were imperative.
“The drivers’ trust in the race director had to be restored, that’s so important. That trust just didn’t exist and that isn’t a healthy place to be in going into each race.”
With those changes implemented, he is now optimistic for the future, however.
“It’s exciting. The new rules for 2022 mean that there is the potential for things to be a lot closer at the top.
“The good thing with the new rules is that it’s going to be a little bit tougher. The drivers are already saying that they’re having to think a little bit more about it when they’re in the car. That can only be a good thing and hopefully it sets us up for a competitive campaign.”
As for the competitive order, Herbert predicted a top four.
“We’re still going to have the normal battle between Mercedes and Red Bull, and I would expect those teams to be at the top again, but I know that fans of McLaren believe that Lando Norris has taken a big step forward and we can probably throw Ferrari into the mix as well.”
The first race seemed to show that McLaren have, in fact, gone in the opposite direction, but Ferrari are more than in the mix, having taken a 1-2 in Bahrain.
Hamilton was the driver to complete the podium – after late mechanical failures for both Red Bulls – but it did not disguise the fact that his Mercedes team have work to do if they are to get back to the front in 2022, having produced a car that has been suffering badly with the returning F1 phenomenon of ‘porpoising’.
If they can rectify those issues, however, Herbert thinks Hamilton will remain“motivated to do the best he can at any given track at any part of the season – he had that hunger in 2007 and he still has it now”.
So, if the 37-year-old can claim the eighth title that was snatched away from him oh so cruelly in December – and move clear of Michael Schumacher in the record they currently share – will that finally settle the debate as to who is Formula 1’s Greatest Of All Time?
“From my perspective, there are several drivers who could be considered, not just Lewis and Michael. Sterling Moss always said that it was Juan Manuel Fangio.
“One thing that probably gives Lewis the edge, even if he doesn’t win the eighth, is that he has to deal with everything else that comes with being a star now.
“I never thought I’d see any driver match Michael’s championship tally; I just didn’t think that was feasible.
“I think there’s a fair argument that he’s already the best.”
There are few better qualified to wade in on the debate than Herbert, who was paired up alongside Schumacher at Benetton in 1995.
The Briton took two of his three career wins during that season – whilst the German secured his second drivers’ title – but said that the favouritism shown towards the man on the other side of the garage by team boss Flavio Briatore was hard to deal with psychologically.
“Realistically, I probably never would have beaten Michael, but I never got given the chance to get myself into the mental state needed to win races and win a championship. I never got given a go.
“Michael was very good at getting the people around him. Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne, the car designer, and a few other people moved to Ferrari and it wasn’t long before they became a winning machine with Michael, too.”
So, put on the spot for one final question, who does Herbert think will claim the 2022 Formula 1 drivers’ crown?
“I think I’m going to go for Lewis because the concept Mercedes have put together looks mighty interesting and the motivation, that burning desire, is still there.”
