Johnny Herbert: ‘Under pressure’ Lando Norris is finding the mental side of F1 tough, McLaren have been unfair to him, Mick Schumacher isn’t on any team’s shopping list

Lando Norris is feeling the heat at the moment isn’t he? He’s admitted to letting silly points go.

JH: “It is the mental side which is very tough. After Hungary, Lando probably felt it was not the right call. Then at Spa, he went into the gravel in a poor start. He’s had two races when it has gone against him while Oscar Piastri, his team-mate, has won a race and been on the podium.

“Lando is very honest but in my opinion, it is something he should have kept to himself and not shared to the world. I would have tried to correct the errors but I wouldn’t tell the world what I was feeling because that is something that other drivers will try to use to their advantage.

“He is under pressure but as a GP winner now he should be able to cope. His rivalry with Oscar is one that can benefit both. They can feed off each other and push each other.”

Team orders have become a talking point this season. What should Lando have done in Hungary? Should he have ignored the team?

JH: “It was the same situation in 2013 in Malaysia between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. I am not a fan of team orders. In Hungary, Lando was the quicker of the two McLaren drivers. He had earned his position in terms of the team strategy. To reverse it left a bitter taste in my mouth. It is not a fair thing.

“In 1999, when Schumacher was out with a broken leg, Ferrari brought in Miko Salo who led the Grand Prix at Hockenheim for most of the race ahead of team-mate Eddie Irvine. Salo was forced to allow Irvine, who was a world championship contender, to pass and thus gave up the win. He told me not too long ago that he regrets doing it now because he never did win a Grand Prix.

“Is that fair for a driver to give it up? I don’t think so. Nothing changed. I understand the constructors’ championship is the team’s most important thing. But Lando could lose the World Championship because of it. Is that fair?

“McLaren still got a one-two. So, what was the point? I know there was an agreement, but I hate them. It is against the spirit of racing.

“Decisions are taken race by race. The strategy call in Hungary with George and Lewis would have been done on the Sunday morning briefing.

“The outcome of a race is being dictated before it starts which is what I don’t agree with as a racing driver. It is just not fair.” 

Would any team want to sign Fernando Alonso again at his age?

JH: “Teams might have signed a younger version of Fernando Alonso but it has been telling that in all the discussions about driver movements and who teams might want, Alonso’s name is never mentioned in association with Red Bull, McLaren or Mercedes.

“They would never think about him. For them, there is a young generation they can get on board to do the job and who are the future.

“The only thing that can save his F1 career and get him into a winning position is if Aston Martin produces a better car.

“At the moment, Aston haven’t been able to do that for instance in the way Mercedes have. They were in contention a couple of years ago but ever since the upgrades, their performances have been poor and they don’t seem to know what to do to improve the car.”

Helmut Marko has talked up Mick Schumacher and suggested Alpine or Audi should make a move for him. What are your thoughts on Mick’s future in F1?

JH: “He is a reserve driver at Mercedes with things not having worked out at Haas. It is damaging for a driver’s career when they are not able to beat your team-mate. Mick couldn’t do that. Mick is not on anyone’s shopping list.”

What do you make of Mattia Binotto the former Ferrari team boss moving to Audi to replace Andreas Siedl?

JH: “I was pretty surprised that Andreas [Seidl] had been pushed aside with regard to the speed and development of Audi ahead of 2026. His reputation was high. But there has obviously been a shift in emphasis at Audi.

“Binotto did not quite achieve enough at Ferrari so he has more to prove than Andreas did. I am not sure it is the right thing.”

The season is looking like being one of the most interesting for years. Yet in 2026 they’re changing everything again. Why and what’s your take?

JH: “F1 is so exciting. They should just say we’ll keep the rules as they are and not change anything for 2026. Tinker perhaps but don’t change the fundamentals because it is working. If it ain’t broke… as the saying goes.

“They won’t change though. The teams would just spit dummies. The teams are always trying to position themselves to look to capitalise on that change. Teams only want to dominate. They don’t want to race wheel to wheel.”