Pressure to deliver on day one for Lawson and others

In other words, step up 'victim' number four: 23-year-old New Zealander is the next thrust into the Lion's Den which Team Verstappen aka Red Bull Racing has become. Bear in mind Max is only 27, four years older than Lawson but also with four F1 titles under his belt.

It is going to be an intriguing battle of supremacy in the Red Bull garage. After all beating your teammate is the first order of business for a Formula 1 driver.

History shows that Max's first teammate at Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo shied from a fight and we know how that turned out for him. Thereafter Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and most recently Sergio Perez were blown away by the Dutchman.

So how will Lawson shape up against Verstappen in his first full season in Formula 1? A relative rookie up against one of the sport's best drivers - if not the best - of the current era.

Herbert said: "Liam has got to prove himself. He's got a good reputation. He came into Formula 1 replacing Daniel [at AlphaTauri] and did a fantastic job."

Herbert recalled: "Everybody was praising Lawson for doing what he's doing. Now he's got to do it properly because we've seen it many a time when a driver gets the opportunity up against the very, very best. Are they able to cope with that pressure?

"It’s the pressure from the media, from within the team, and then the pressure actually within yourself to be able to perform every single time. Liam is talented, absolutely. He's got the speed, absolutely. Has he got more speed than Max Verstappen? Well, that's what he's got to prove to everybody. And himself," said Herbert.

The Grand Prix winner and motorsport veteran also commented on Jack Doohan’s situation at Alpine, where the Australian faces immense pressure to deliver alongside veteran Pierre Gasly. With Flavio Briatore securing highly rated Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver, Doohan’s seat is anything but secure.

Herbert said: "Sadly, you can't have sympathy. That never works. It never does you any good at all. It doesn't work like that, and the pressure that every driver is under, especially when they come into Formula 1 for the first time, is huge.

"There are those rumours already out there that [Jack Doohan] is only going to last a race or two and then he's going to get moved aside. That happens. It is not something new. There are drivers that have lost their drives because they weren't able to perform.

"That’s what you're up against, the very, very best in the world. Jack has got to be able to utilise what he's learned in Bahrain. Analyse absolutely everything and apply that when he gets in the car."

On the Alpine expectations on the 22-year-old Aussie, Herbert said: "Flavio Briatore will expect him to be on it when [Doohan] gets to Australia, and he expects him to be on it all the way through the weekend in Australia, and he expects him to make his point."

Another fascinating intra-team battle in 2025 will be between George Russell and highly anticipated Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes. Herbert believes Russell, now the team’s senior driver, will have the upper hand.

"He showed it last year, to be honest, and I know there was, for me anyway, a lot more favouritism in the team towards George [Russell] because Lewis [Hamilton] was leaving. Kimi [Antonelli] comes along, and a lot of people are really excited to see what Antonelli will be able to do in the car, but of course, he's another one who's still got to prove it.

"It's going to be interesting how he deals with a very confident George who cemented himself in the fabric of what Mercedes are," said Herbert. The pressure is on Russell to prove he is worthy to lead the Mercedes team into the future or if a rookie will take control.