Why fans remember F1 world champions but not constructors' champions

At this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, McLaren could wrap up their 10th title with seven races to spare after winning 12 of the 16 Grands Prix so far this season. A one-two finish in Baku, or simply outscoring Ferrari by nine points, would be enough to seal back-to-back championships. Yet Herbert believes the bigger battle remains between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris for the drivers’ crown.

Herbert told Adventure Gamers: “People remember the world champion; they don’t remember who won the constructors’ title. The line goes down to that driver deciding: do I play the team game, or do I play my game? That’s where the line changes. You can’t control the driver in the cockpit unless you have a red button on the pit wall to stop the car.”

Herbert pointed to Norris’s lost points in Holland and the controversial switch of positions in Monza as examples of how team management can blur the line between fairness and manipulation: “You’re going to have good days together and bad days together on the driver’s side and the team side, as Lando had in Holland."

Herbert continued: "Is he ever going to get those points back? No. Was it nice what they did in Monza? Yes. But did it achieve anything? No. I do understand what they do. I don’t necessarily agree with it. I think there are many people that don’t agree with it. I saw Toto Wolff said it was setting a very difficult precedent.

"I agree. A precedent that could become a big issue," added Herbert. While McLaren’s constructors’ crown looks inevitable, the Grand Prix and Le Mans winner warned that team orders could distort the drivers’ championship fight.

“It was an easier decision by McLaren because of the points difference. It wasn’t as close as it was,” Herbert noted. “I hope it doesn’t get to a point where it does make the difference to the outcome of the drivers’ championship. The team wins anyway. The driver is the one who potentially can lose out.”

For Herbert, the essence of Formula 1 remains with the individuals at the wheel. “That’s the difference to me. It’s the gladiatorial side that we want to keep and don’t want to lose,. People remember the world champion; they don’t remember who won the constructors’ title. They don’t even know what the number of the car was.”