Herbert reveals favourite for world title, and ‘perfect scenario’ for F1

FIA steward Johnny Herbert has offered some intriguing insights into his predictions for the 2025 Formula 1 season, naming both a potential favorite and a dream scenario for the championship.

With the competition promising to be fiercer than ever, McLaren and Ferrari are expected to take center stage once again after their nail-biting battle in 2024, which saw McLaren secure the Constructors’ Championship.

But Herbert, offering his thoughts on the season ahead, provided a layered view on the contenders, his favourites, and his personal hopes.

McLaren’s Momentum Could Be Key

McLaren’s mid-season charge came close to unsettling Max Verstappen’s title bid with Red Bull, but their efforts were hampered by a slow start.

As the 2025 season approaches, Herbert believes the Woking-based outfit could be poised to break its Drivers’ Championship drought.

• Read also: Brundle hints at Ferrari 'game-changer' for Hamilton title bid

“Do I expect a particular team to start off strong like Red Bull and Max Verstappen did last year? Probably not,” the three-time Grand Prix winner stated during an interview with Casinoutanspelpaus.io.

“I would expect it to be McLaren, but I do remember the beginning of last year where they ended the year before quite strong, but they didn’t quite carry it through.

©McLaren

“And Red Bull got the jump on them, which is why Max and Red Bull won the championship eventually because they started very, very strong, even with a weak sort of middle of the season.

“It didn’t matter though because they already gained a big point advantage and then McLaren were chasing after that.”

A Fierce Battle Between Norris and Piastri

With six wins overall, the driver pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri proved to be a winning combination in 2024, and their internal rivalry promises to be fierce.

“With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, it’s going to be a tough one for both of those two drivers up against each other,” Herbert added.

“It’d be lovely to see McLaren come out strong at the beginning but then carry that the whole way through with this momentum that they’ve been able to generate over the last couple of years.”

Herbert’s ‘Perfect Scenario’

So, who does Herbert see as potential frontrunners? His answer sheds light on his "perfect scenario" for the upcoming season.

“Yes, I think Lewis Hamilton winning the championship this year would be the perfect scenario,” he added.

Hamilton’s hypothetical triumph with Ferrari would indeed mark a historic moment in the sport and a fitting climax to the Briton’s already illustrious career.

While the possibility remains speculative, it reflects Herbert’s appreciation for the allure of Formula 1’s rich history and iconic teams.

”Yes, I think Ferrari winning the championship would be brilliant for the sport,” he admitted.

“But I think for me, it would be nice to see McLaren win again. Like Ferrari, they’ve been around for such a long time and been so successful for many, many years.

“But we haven’t seen that in recent times, a little bit like Ferrari.”

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