Johnny Herbert believes Lando Norris enters the Las Vegas Grand Prix as the clear favourite for the Formula 1 World Championship, arguing that the McLaren driver has evolved into a complete racer just as the title fight reaches its decisive final three rounds.
Speaking ahead of Round 22 of the twenty five race season, Herbert said Norris has ironed out the weaknesses that once held him back. He said: “Lando has to be the favourite for the championship. Lando is looking like the complete driver now. His weakness was always at the start.
“That has been sorted. He had a little weakness with his racing skill, but I think that has improved as well. And with the maturity of those two things coming together, I think if he ever had that battle with Max, I think he would be more than able to deal with it.”
Herbert added that Norris’ development has shifted the internal dynamic at McLaren. He said: “That is where the strength has come from, and where he has taken away that energy from Oscar. It is Lando’s to lose. We have seen Oscar’s thirty odd point advantage completely turned around.”
Norris knows one mistake will cost dearly
With only three races left, Herbert believes the title could theoretically swing again, although he does not expect it. He said: “There is still a chance that he could even swap again. But I do not see it. I think the momentum is with Lando, who is in a dominant place.”
Herbert warned that Max Verstappen remains the most dangerous variable in the title equation, even after losing ground across the past two events. He pointed to the Brazilian Grand Prix as the latest example of Verstappen and Red Bull finding performance out of nowhere: “Max is someone who can turn it around in an instant.
“In Brazil, he was a little bit out of it in practice and qualifying. Then they changed the power unit, fiddled around with the car and it all came alive for him. His drive was brilliant.”
Herbert explained that Verstappen’s ability to reset and rebuild mid weekend is precisely what keeps the field on edge: “He is always a threat.
“He is that type of driver that even when he is having a bit of a bad weekend, he has the ability to work with his team, they understand what he needs, he pushes them into a corner to tell them what he needs.
Herbert: It is brilliant to see what Verstappen is doing
The British motorsport veteran continued: “Together, somehow, they are able to make those things happen. That is the scary thing for the other drivers because they are always going to be wondering where Max is, and suddenly there he is.”
Herbert praised Verstappen’s racing approach in recent months: “It is brilliant to see what he is doing because watching him drive is so enjoyable. The way he is going about his racing at the moment is so pure. There is none of those elbows out, forcing someone on the grass.
“It is all very beautifully executed. This is the pure racer we are seeing. There were often those little issues that came into play. Now he is proving he does not need to do it.”
For Norris, Herbert believes the message is clear: “Lando is very aware that he cannot rest on his laurels. He knows that any little slip-up is only going to give a massive boost to Max.”
The Las Vegas weekend opens on Friday with McLaren holding the momentum, Verstappen lurking, and the world championship poised for another critical shift under the lights of the Strip.
Johnny Herbert was speaking to Prime Casino, who offer online casino game 24 Hour Grand Prix Jackpot.
