Herbert: F1 still the place for excitement

Despite the critics and calls for change, Sky Sports F1 pundit Johnny Herbert still believes that Formula 1 offers a lot to get excited about.

Many believe the sport's appeal to the masses has faded in past years with the arrival of hybrid technology which has muffled the cars' sounds and ushered in a period of supreme domination by Mercedes.

But Herbert casts the critics aside and insists that there remains an element of thrill which only Grand Prix racing can offer.

"We've still got the ballsy qualifying lap, that's still there and right on the limit," says the former F1 driver.

"It's a slightly different toolset when you go into the race. But what's been refreshing after all the talk in the last couple of years is that Max Verstappen turns up and turns the whole world on its head.

"You're still able to wrestle that car and get the best from it. And that's what's exciting."

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Herbert admitted however that F1 has sanitized itself somewhat on the corporate front with the advent of political correctness which keeps the drivers under wrap.

"The corporate element is different, yes. That's' something that over the years has become a very important part of it [F1].

"I totally understand it from Mercedes point of you as they're promoting a brand and technology which they move across onto their road cars.

"But the pure essence of it is exactly the same. We're still seeing these special rare drivers come into effect."

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