Herbert: McLaren should put Norris first, he can win the 2024 F1 title

While on the surface teammates have equal cars in Formula 1, more often than not, teams give preferential treatment to the driver most likely to win the championship. Since the turn of this century, and even before Michael Schumacher 'surrounded' himself with teammates who were compliant.

Schumi was not the first F1 great to do so nor the last. The 'formula' worked at Renault when all was focused on Fernando Alonso on his way to two titles. And again when the Spaniard was at Ferrari. McLaren did the same with Lewis Hamilton, ditto Mercedes. Red Bull did it with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber; ditto Vettell-Raikkone at Ferrari. Same as Red Bull has always done with Max Verstappen.

However, Oscar Piastri may not be as compliant as the scriptwriters want and has already beaten Norris, as well as taken points off him, which could come back and haunt the team.

With the dominance shown in recent races and favourites at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Herbert had advice for McLaren: "They have probably been the benchmark since before Silverstone.

"They've made mistakes as a team. Norris, we know, has made a few mistakes as well, but I think what's interesting now is the strength that Lando is showing from the disappointment that he had in Hungary to bouncing back to having this result last weekend.

"There is now a really important decision that needs to be made," insisted Herbert. "They should back Lando now. The team has to put Lando first. They should be giving everything to him to go for the driver’s championship. He has a chance; he has a shot at winning this championship this year. They have said to him over the radio that you do need the team to help you win those races in the future. Now it's that time.

"The F1 constructors’ championship will come their way if everything goes perfectly for them. Oscar is still doing a great job. He's still collecting the haul of points that he needs. He's going to be probably stronger in some races than others.

"But I have to say, Norris is the stronger one of two in every single race that we are going into. He's the only one who's going to maybe get himself and slip on that banana. The starts are something he's got to improve upon.

"Overall, it’s down to him. It’s keeping his mind fixed on being as consistent as he is at the moment. When I look at what he did in Zandvoort, the most telling moment was when he set the fastest lap on the last lap. That was a very thoughtful driver.

"The team probably weren't very impressed urging him, maybe just to bring the car home safely. But for him to even think he could get that fastest lap right at the end of the race was a very impressive and positive mental approach and sums up where he is at the moment," ventured Herbert.

After destroying Daniel Ricciardo, Norris was forced to raise his game with Piastri in the other car. It was a wake-up call of sorts, which resulted in a marked step-up for the 24-year-old Briton.

Herbert explained: "He's more complete, and by that, I mean he got pole position again, so he's now being able to get a run off of those. Then his very impressive form. There's always a little bit of a slow start. It was better in Zandvoort, but he still lost out to Max from the start. That's something that he and McLaren have got to try and fix.

"He is mighty strong when it comes down to the end of the race. His performances over the last four or five races, or thereabouts, have been so strong. Then it's the consistency that he's doing as well. Oscar's doing a good job, but it's not anywhere near as consistent as Lando.

"Since Austria, Lando has probably gone up another level or two in performance. I know he was asked at the weekend whether he had a chance of winning the championship. And he said, ‘Oh, don't be silly!’

"I think belief will come from within because I think that's where that decision to back your man is very important and had to be made. Now it's got to be down to supporting the man who's going to be able to deliver."

As for McLaren beating Red Bull to the Constructors F1 title this year, their first since 1998, Herbert believes it can happen: "Definitely, yes. Because they've got two drivers who are able to bring those points back.

"In the past, it was Max not on his own, but generally on his own, but he was winning races. That's a very different scenario to now, where he's finishing second. It's really now becoming a lot more difficult for them because Sergio Perez is still not putting together what he needs to give the team a chance of the constructors’.

"Now it is only going smoothly from McLaren. There's a good chance by Singapore they could be damn close; and then the pressure or the internal war that might come it's way, that is another pressure that might trigger that, let's say, civil war," warned Herbert, who knows a thing or two about driver hierarchy.

After he was a teammate to Michael Schumacher for 19 races at Benetton. Herbert quotes supplied by the media team at Poker Apps LTD.