Johnny Herbert speaks to Vision 4 Sport, giving his insight into the rest of the season and other key happenings in the world of Formula 1.

As the F1 season ramps up towards its close, we caught up with our old friend, Johnny Herbert, who shared his expert perspective on the rest of the season and other significant developments in the world of Formula 1. According to Herbert, Gabriel Bortoleto is an exciting appointment on the grid and he believes
Franco Colapinto deserves Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat.

Johnny Herbert: Gabriel Bortoleto is a very exciting addition to F1, Colapinto is being compared to Messi already - he deserves a Red Bull seat and one non-finish by Verstappen makes a ‘massive change’ to the Championship

V4S: Where could he end up do you think? Red Bull? A replacement for Perez? JH: “There has been chatter about that, what Sergio brings to the team in terms of sponsorship and whether Colapinto could do the same with his Argentine sponsors and that would work out.

V4S: Is anyone else in line for the Red Bull seat as and when it becomes vacant? Lawson or Tsunoda?
JH: Both have done a really good job. Red Bull have two good drivers, but if you look at Colapinto and what he has achieved in the Williams, which is not quite as good as the Red Bull, he has impressed more. When you listen to what you hear in the paddock, Colapinto is the one who needs to get the chance.

V4S: If you were Christian Horner who would you pick from the three of them? JH: They have all proved they have that raw speed. It’s taken a little bit longer for Yuki but they’ve stuck with him at Red Bull and he is now achieving and was unlucky not to get on to the podium in Brazil. Liam has been able to jump in and his qualifying is very good as his race pace. The one I’d like to see is Colapinto who unlike the other two, hasn’t got a seat and he has more than earned the chance from what we have seen so far.

V4S: That would be a huge boost for Argentina, wouldn’t it?
JH: Yes. F1 hasn’t been to Argentina since the 1990s and a race back there would be something that would be huge and something that Colapinto’s presence in the sport could help happen. I think the government has a plan to try to update the circuit there. I know Red Bull always look at regions and Sergio was a big deal for them and Mexico when they got him into the car and it really took off. That then could really work for Colapinto in Argentina. South America is a massive market.

V4S: How do you see the next three races and the Norris Verstappen duel? What’s Lando got to do?
JH: Norris just has to continue doing what he is doing. One non-finish by Max would make a massive change to the championship. Max is still the hot favourite even if that happened. Max will not have to win and only finish on the podium. He knows what he has to do and is so much more mature this season.
Norris will go into 2025 knowing he can beat Max, whatever happens in the last three races. That’s a massive psychological barrier he has overcome. He has made his statement and pushed Max to the edge.

V4S: What happens at McLaren next year with Lando and Oscar? Do they start level pegging? JH: Lando won’t just be fighting Max next season, but also Oscar, Charles Leclerc and the rest. Oscar has shown he is a man on a mission and one who will only improve. When you start afresh going into the first race next year, you’ll be fighting against your teammate first, but then whoever is around you. There is going to be a great dynamic which will work in McLaren’s favour. Two great drivers who are going to be able to deliver in a consistent way. One who has been fighting for the championship and has risen to the occasion. If he can dial out those first-lap start issues he will be a very hard man to beat. McLaren are going to be the one to beat.

V4S: Where does that leave the relationship next January? All bets are off as far as who is number one?
JH: If we go to Abu Dhabi and the championship is done and it is not possible for Lando to win, that will already have changed. That will be letting Oscar be allowed to go out there and win the race if he can. The whole dynamic will swap over very quickly this year and will continue into 2025. It is really exciting. People need to be there to see the start of the season next year. It’s going to be one helluva fight the whole year between four teams. Oscar will be very difficult to beat but Lando has upped his game when he has had to and has been the man who has effectively led the team to be where it is at the moment.

V4S: How long has Lewis got to make an impact at Ferrari?
JH: Drivers don’t think like that. Lewis will be looking to fly out of the blocks as quickly and as positively as he can. Has he still got what it takes? I think he has.
For Lewis, it will be something fresh. His relationship with Fred Vasseur will be positive and benefit the team. He really respects him. Then there is Charl to deal with at the same time which will really motivate him. It is all about motivation for the driver. It should be a really good start for Ferrari because of the position they are in at the moment. They’ve got to tweak a couple of things to ensure overall consistency but the car has got the pace to win races as Charl has proven.

V4S: What’s his future?
JH: For me, the thing that proved what he could achieve was in Brazil, a circuit he had never been to before. It is a tricky circuit and he was pretty much on top of it. He went top of the leaderboard on the first free practice on Friday and in two laps was on top of the board. He seems to be able to adapt and show speed. That is a really good sign for next year which is going to be important for him at Haas to try and dominate Ocon. That is exciting as it’s another Brit and potentially down the line with the relationship he has got with Ferrari, who knows he could be joining Ferrari at the end of Lewis’s time there whenever that may be.So, there is a good replacement already there and Ferrari are very aware that he is someone
they want to give a chance to when the opportunity arises.

V4S: What could Lawson and Tsunoda do if they miss out at Red Bull and they get frustrated?
JH: For Liam, it’s a great opportunity that RB are giving him. If he impresses and dominates Yuki, then he could get into the Red Bull. They have stuck with Yuki and he’s improved and he might feel frustrated that hasn’t been given a chance. But I hear he is going to have a test with the Red Bull car soon. Otherwise, there is nowhere else to go for those guys.”

The season finale………..