Herbert: Norris should have kept some things to himself

Norris has been going in a bit of rough time recently, as he chases his second F1 grand prix win following his first at the Miami GP.

He has had his lows with some errors, especially at race starts - Spa, Hungary, and Spain - while his clash with Max Verstappen weighed quite heavily on him.

What made matters worse in Hungary in particular was the fact that McLaren ordered him to hand over the lead to teammate Oscar Piastri who went on to take his first win. As a reminder, Piastri jumped polesitter Norris at the start, the latter only re-taking the lead after a strategy call from McLaren.

Norris admitted he needed a reset over the summer break, but McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella downplayed his driver's comments.

However, speaking to Poker Apps, Herbert, a veteran of 161 F1 races, reflected on Norris' state of mind, he said: "It is the mental side which is very tough.

"After Hungary, Lando probably felt it was not the right call. Then at Spa, he went into the gravel in a poor start. He's had two races when it has gone against him while Oscar Piastri, his team-mate, has won a race and been on the podium.

"Lando is very honest but in my opinion, it is something he should have kept to himself and not shared to the world. I would have tried to correct the errors but I wouldn't tell the world what I was feeling because that is something that other drivers will try to use to their advantage.

"He is under pressure but as a GP winner now he should be able to cope. His rivalry with Oscar is one that can benefit both. They can feed off each other and push each other," he insisted.

Herbert went on commenting about the McLaren team orders saga at the Hungarian Grand Prix, admitting he is not a fan of team orders.

"It was the same situation in 2013 in Malaysia between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber," he pointed out. "I am not a fan of team orders.

"In Hungary, Lando was the quicker of the two McLaren drivers. He had earned his position in terms of the team strategy. To reverse it left a bitter taste in my mouth. It is not a fair thing.

"In 1999, when Schumacher was out with a broken leg, Ferrari brought in Miko Salo who led the Grand Prix at Hockenheim for most of the race ahead of team-mate Eddie Irvine. Salo was forced to allow Irvine, who was a world championship contender, to pass and thus gave up the win.

"He told me not too long ago that he regrets doing it now because he never did win a Grand Prix," Herbert recalled.

"Is that fair for a driver to give it up? I don't think so," the three-time grand prix winner mused. "Nothing changed. I understand the Constructors' Championship is the team's most important thing. But Lando could lose the World Championship because of it. Is that fair?

"McLaren still got a one-two. So, what was the point? I know there was an agreement, but I hate them. It is against the spirit of racing.

"Decisions are taken race by race. The strategy call would have been done on the Sunday morning briefing. The outcome of a race is being dictated before it starts which is what I don't agree with as a racing driver. It is just not fair," Herbert concluded.