Verstappen channels Schumacher in Suzuka masterclass

Speaking after Verstappen’s third win of the season at Suzuka, Herbert - Schumacher's teammate for 19 GPs in 1994 and 1995 - drew attention not just to the Dutchman’s dominance but the mind games he played before the lights went out.

“It was interesting that before the race, Max Verstappen came out with a very Michael Schumacher-esque comment, which was, ‘I don't have a chance this weekend!’” Herbert recalled. “And that's exactly what I remember Michael used to do! Then he'd win the race and everybody would go, ‘Wow, what a performance.’”

Verstappen converted that stunning pole in Qualifying on Saturday at Suzuka, into a commanding victory in the Red Bull RB21, never looking under threat in what was a sprint race, 53 qualifying-style laps with Norris and Piastri chasing the #1 Red Bull.

Herbert said: “I have to say that Max's performance confirmed he is the greatest driver of his generation. He was on it in qualifying. And Suzuka is one of those circuits where once you get the lead, it's very hard to overtake. Max got a great start, a brilliant opening lap, as you always expect from him, and then he controlled it from that point on.”

Herbert believes McLaren squandered an opportunity to challenge Verstappen more seriously with a smarter pit strategy: “Perhaps they should have brought Lando in before Oscar for the undercut. Obviously, all that happened was that they came in together and gained a second, but of course, Max was ahead when they left onto the circuit when he went onto the grass.

“So, then they didn't capitalise on the potential of that undercut, which definitely would have worked if the pit stop that Max did—or Red Bull did for him—had happened as well. It was a race full of games. There was the dummy that McLaren did as well, trying to force Red Bull into coming into the pit. But at the end of the day, Max was in control of the situation.”

While Oscar Piastri looked strong behind Norris throughout the race, Herbert doesn’t believe team orders would have changed the outcome—or been appropriate: “Sometimes when you’re behind, it always looks as if you’re quicker, but you’re not necessarily—even though Oscar could argue he was in ‘dirty air’ and therefore could be quicker.

Asked if Norris is getting preferential treatment, Herbert surmised: "No, I don't think Lando Norris is overprotected. I think supported, yes. Protected, no. That’s an important part of what didn't quite happen last year."

Herbert explained: "I go back to what happened in Hungary last year when Norris had to give up the race. Potentially, it could have pushed Norris onto another level by winning that race. That’s the support that sometimes you need, and that’s the support that Max has got.

“And that’s what they seem to be wanting to do this time around, as we saw at Suzuka. They didn’t swap the drivers around, which I think was the right thing.”

Herbert also weighed in on the broader debate around team orders and prioritising team points over letting drivers race. For him, it’s a no-brainer: “It’s the Drivers’ Championship that matters. Going back through history, you know who the champion was in a given year, but you don’t remember who won the Constructors’ title.

"In fact, you can very rarely know what the car is. I get it from a team because obviously the money is a big important part of it, but in all my years of doing it, I've generally found that if you allow the drivers to do what the drivers do best, which is to go out there and go as quick as they can, the Constructors’ Championship comes to you anyway. Whenever I talk to fans, they always talk about the drivers. That’s what matters.”

McLaren have arguably the fastest car on the grid, but Herbert is concerned they’re not making it count while Verstappen and Red Bull remain within striking distance: “I’m glad Zak Brown let them race. Did McLaren lose out? Maybe. But at the end of the day, they were beaten by Max and Red Bull, who are still in the fight for the championship.

“I’ve never ruled him out, you can’t rule him out. And Red Bull are not far off and haven’t been far off so far this season. It’s just McLaren slightly got that edge.

“Is it damaging for their championship hopes? In some ways, yes. Because, like last year with Max, and like Michael Schumacher in his heyday, they always won the championship by their early-season form and everybody else played catch-up.

“We're a few races in and Norris is only one point ahead, so they haven’t capitalised as much as they should have done. I never thought this season was going to be a walkover for McLaren and I think they’re still going to have to earn any success.

“I would argue they probably have the better package because the McLaren does seem to work absolutely everywhere,” Herbert said.

Verstappen’s brilliance and Red Bull’s consistency, in running what is essentially a one-man team, mean McLaren’s margin for error is already shrinking. And if Herbert’s comparison holds true, the rest of the field might already be in familiar Schumacher territory—chasing shadows.