McLaren might consider parting ways with Lewis Hamilton according to Herbert
After Jackie Stewart, Alain Prost, and Niki Lauda, it's Jonny Herbert's turn to share his feelings about Lewis Hamilton following a Singapore Grand Prix once again marked by an incident in which he was involved.
Formula 1 driver between 1989 and 2000, Johnny Herbert is now a sought-after consultant for both audiovisual and print media. He is sometimes the fourth steward at certain Grand Prix events and also writes a column for the British daily newspaper The National. This week’s column was, of course, dedicated to Lewis Hamilton.
« Once again, he made a stupid mistake, and he not only ruined his own race but also Felipe Massa’s » begins Herbert, referring to the incident between the Paulista and the Brit. « The Brazilian had the right to be angry with him after the race, especially considering he was a victim of another reckless maneuver by Hamilton in Monaco ». The Ferrari driver had indeed already collided with the McLaren driver in the Principality, which had indirectly led to Massa’s crash in the Tunnel.
« Yes, he did drive well after the pit stop to change his damaged wing and the penalty he received, but he could have finished better than fifth. Being too ambitious cost him dearly. It was another judgment error on his part, and it must stop ». The former Sauber driver highlights the repetition of these mistakes: « If it had just happened once, you could say it’s a simple driving error, it happens, and you could move on. But it must be the fifth or sixth major mistake he’s made this season, and it’s becoming a real problem ».
« It must be frustrating for Hamilton because it’s frustrating for me to watch him right now. […] I know he said he was only in F1 to win, and it must be difficult for someone as ambitious as him to see Sebastian Vettel win his second title at 24. Not so long ago, Hamilton was the man of the moment after missing the title by one point in his first season and winning it the second year ».
Johnny Herbert takes the opportunity to look for an explanation by checking the cockpit of the other McLaren: « Jenson Button’s form has unsettled him. Button is probably delivering the best driving of his career and is outclassing Hamilton. Hamilton has never experienced this situation before, being regularly beaten by a teammate. When he teamed up with Fernando Alonso in 2007, he was expected to play a secondary role, but he surprised everyone by immediately being competitive. It was Alonso who eventually had to struggle to cope with the situation ». In 2007, the two teammates remained neck and neck for a long time until Lewis Hamilton finally gained an advantage that many thought was definitive during the dramatic Fuji Grand Prix, during which Alonso crashed out violently, paving the way for a victory by the then-rookie.
Herbert concludes his column by talking about the future, and he is rather pessimistic: There have been speculations about Hamilton’s future, but his options are limited. I am sure McLaren would like to keep him, but their loyalty could start to falter if he continues to make such costly mistakes. At the beginning of the season, the 2008 world champion hinted at the possibility of leaving McLaren, before repeatedly stating this season that he wants to win titles with his long-time team.
« Hamilton will be relieved when the season ends in November in Brazil. He needs to take a step back, look at the incidents he has been involved in, and try to learn from them. Otherwise, he risks finishing his career with only one championship title. I know it’s something he wants to avoid at all costs. »
