Johnny Herbert has accused a renowned figure in Formula 1 of holding onto resentment towards Lewis Hamilton. This assertion follows the high praise the same individual showered on Max Verstappen for his exceptional performance at Suzuka last weekend.
Despite being underestimated by many, the Red Bull driver outpaced both McLaren cars to secure pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix with a remarkable Saturday lap, narrowly beating Lando Norris despite driving a slower car.
Verstappen translated his pole position into his first victory of the year at the same race, successfully fending off the faster McLarens. Even before this triumph, Fernando Alonso expressed deep admiration for Verstappen’s achievements.
The Aston Martin racer lauded Verstappen’s remarkable driving skills, emphasizing that no other driver currently surpasses expectations like him. Herbert, a former F1 racer, suggested that Alonso’s admiration for Verstappen and his lack of praise for Hamilton may stem from their tumultuous relationship during their time as McLaren teammates in 2007.
Hamilton, a rookie back then, challenged the two-time world champion Alonso, leading to strained relations and Alonso’s departure at the end of the season. Herbert believes Alonso might still carry some resentment towards Hamilton due to their past differences.
The ongoing battle between Hamilton and Alonso at McLaren left a lasting impact on their relationship, with Alonso possibly feeling unsupported by the team. In contrast, Herbert commended Verstappen for consistently delivering outstanding performances, even when facing daunting odds.
Verstappen’s recent victory places him just one point behind Norris in the championship standings as they head into the Bahrain Grand Prix. Formula 1 enthusiasts can now enjoy live coverage of all sessions with Sky’s new Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering substantial savings and additional benefits like free Netflix and Discovery+ subscriptions.