Is Hamilton held back at Mercedes because he is leaving? 'That's rubbish'
F1 News
During winter, it was announced that Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes and join Ferrari in 2025. As a result, the Germans are giving less information - if some information is given at all to Hamilton. Former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert believes that only means Mercedes will lose out on more points this season, while the Briton also had some praise for George Russell.
A regular occurance in Formula One: Drivers who will leave their team will not receive the same information about their cars, and the same goes for the staff, who are forced go on a gardening leave before they join a rival. Hamilton himself has been quite negative about his chances this season, declaring earlier that he doubts he will outqualify his teammate, George Russell, in 2024.
Johnny Herbert thinks that only sets Mercedes back further, he wrote in his column on Lord Ping. "That is normal for Lewis not to be in the know about everything. As far as doctoring his car so his performances are impacted, that is rubbish. That interferes with the constructors’ championship, the number of points a team wins and the money that they earn from that," the former Benetton and Sauber driver explained.
Herbert however believes Hamilton could return to form in 2025. "There may be an element of [Hamilton checking out]. He has been there for so long and found it hard over the past two years that a reboot and a refresh at Ferrari was his decision. Maybe we will see more of the old Lewis when he goes to Ferrari."
Herbert praises Russell
Mercedes are yet to announce who will be their second driver alongside George Russell in 2025. However, no matter who he will be paired up with, the Briton will be a leading figure within the team, having then completed three seasons with the Germans. In Canada, Russell once again showed his talents as he took pole position and then he finished on the podium.
"George is maturing and it’s the perfect time for him. Now Lewis is leaving, Mercedes is effectively George’s team. He has all the ingredients to take it further," Herbert praised the British driver.