Johnny Herbert: ‘Lewis Hamilton should sign for Ferrari; it’s worth a go’

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Lewis Hamilton should sign for Ferrari. By the time you read this perhaps a new deal with Mercedes will have been announced. If it hasn’t, why not? I sense in the Hamilton camp there’s a feeling they won’t be able to win another title with Mercedes. As a racing driver, you are always trying to get yourself in a better position and while at the present time it’s not the place to go, Ferrari still offers a lot.

I would be surprised if there has not been communication in some shape or form, whatever is said in public, because of that old link to Fred Vasseur. Wouldn’t you look at it? Mercedes might promise this, that and the other, as they did through Niki Lauda when Hamilton joined the team back in 2013 – but it’s not looking brilliant right now. OK, Ferrari has obvious flaws and the mid-pack is tight. But there are only two options for Lewis: one is silver, one is red.

“I think Max is finding it boring at the moment because it’s so easy”

At his age, Hamilton clearly needs the most direct route to an eighth title, but that route includes a need for fresh motivation. I know he’s driving well at the moment, and better than his team-mate George Russell, but they are only fighting for that third step of the podium most of the time. It’s never consistent. I still feel – or felt if a deal has been announced! – that a switch to Ferrari is worth a go.

Ferrari remains splintered at the moment. There are good parts in the team, but it still hasn’t been able to bring all the elements together. Like a football manager, Vasseur needs to change the culture and that takes time. The team has all the ingredients at its core, but he needs to draw out the best from everyone – and bring in those who can make a difference. Drivers are a part of it. Hamilton would galvanise the team, attract the engineering signings that are needed and make things happen, certainly quicker than we see right now.

Charles Leclerc needs to sort himself out, too. His current deal finishes at the end of next year. But what options has he got other than Ferrari? It’s not obvious.

We’re now into the long autumn run-in. Beyond Red Bull, mid-season technical upgrades have shaped the form. We’ve seen it with Mercedes since Monaco, while Aston Martin took a wrong turn and has been forced to backtrack. The trouble is when you do that you go back to where you started whereas everyone else has moved on. At McLaren, the rise in performance since Austria has allowed us to focus on Lando Norris vs Oscar Piastri, which is going to be very interesting to watch. It’s not settled in any shape or form, and Oscar is adapting very well despite his lack of experience. Lando came out with a classic racing driver comment, that he’s not quite confident with the car, that it doesn’t suit his driving style – just as his team-mate is going quickly!

I’ve been frustrated by a few things recently. Christian Horner said there is “not one ounce” of him that wishes for more competition in the wake of Red Bull’s domination. I understand why he’d say that, but not even Max Verstappen wants it to remain as it is. Actually I think he’s finding it boring at the moment because it’s so easy. When I was driving, I always wanted to be racing. It’s nice to drive off into the distance, but only every now and then, not every time. To be fair, it’s not just Christian – there seems to be no collective will to make the racing better, teams are only motivated by self-interest rather than their responsibility to shape the bigger picture. Liberty Media/F1 is trying to improve the show, but keeps getting pushed back by the teams. It really does annoy me! Also it seems to me as the cars develop, dirty air is becoming more of an issue in following closely again and we are seeing DRS trains more often. It must be so frustrating as a driver because you can’t do anything in that situation.

I’m also frustrated about the future engine rules. As biofuels develop, why the hell are we persevering with hybrids? Why can’t we go back to V10s? F1’s combustion engine is the most efficient out there, so why can’t we incorporate its strengths into a V10 and bring back that wonderful sound? Those who say it’s different now, that it doesn’t matter, are kidding themselves. Everybody I speak to, young and old, talk about the sound. Ex-drivers and fans want it, but there’s no willingness. The business shouldn’t control the heart.

Johnny Herbert was a Formula 1 driver from 1989-2000 and a Le Mans winner in 1991. He is a regular contributor to Sky Sports F1
Follow Johnny on Twitter @johnnyherbertf1