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Johnny Herbert says in 2022 Lewis Hamilton “was probably frustrated, as a racing driver would be as a seven-time world champion, trying to get eighth, which was taken away from him”.
In a talk with Total-Motorsport.com, former F1 driver Johnny Herbert was asked to give his thoughts on a possible battle between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in 2023, considering how Russell finished ahead of Hamilton last year.
The Briton says he believes Lewis will be on a different level this year.
“I think Lewis started last year probably a little bit frustrated, knowing the car wasn’t great,” Herbert said.
“I don’t think he had the right mental approach because he was probably frustrated, as a racing driver would be as a seven-time world champion, trying to get eighth, which was taken away from him.
“But now that opportunity has reset to get himself mentally and physically prepared. It’s a good thing, maybe for Lewis, knowing that the pressure is going to be really hot from George.”
Ultimately Herbert expects Hamilton to prevail in Mercedes’ intra-team battle.
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“It can be a very positive thing for a driver to know your teammate is going to be strong, to be pushed. You know you need to up your game straightaway.
“Lewis has done that in the past, but he’s coming to the end of his career. Things change as you get older and when you have a young whippersnapper coming in, who’s hungry for that success, there is going to be a crossover at some point.
“Will that be this year? I would be surprised. But I think it’s gonna be a mighty, tight tussle with George very hungry to try and take the reins away from Lewis, who won’t give up very easily as well.
“That’s what we want,” the Briton concluded.
In other news, Herbert has recently garnered a lot of headlines after Sky Sports announced that he will not be a part of their F1 broadcast team in 2023.
