Applauding Max Verstappen’s championship-winning drive in
Brazil, Johnny Herbert still managed a dig as he questioned the Red Bull
driver’s previous antics when he showed in Brazil it’s something he doesn’t
need to do.
Herbert was Verstappen‘s most
vocal critic after the Mexican Grand Prix when the FIA race steward spoke of
the Red Bull driver’s “horrible mindset” when he twice ran Lando Norris off the
track.
Johnny Herbert: Max Verstappen has earned the World
Championship
“I am such a big fan of Verstappen and it frustrates me
massively when he drives the way he did in Mexico,” said the Briton, adding:
“When Verstappen goes into
this horrible mindset of trying to gain an advantage by taking a
fellow driver off the race track, that’s where Verstappen needs to know he
doesn’t have to do that.
“Just win in the cleanest possible way you can.”
That’s exactly what the reigning World Champion did seven
days later.
Verstappen fought back from a P17 start position to sit
second when the Brazilian Grand Prix was red-flagged following Franco
Colapinto’s crash.
On the restart he made short work of passing Esteban Ocon
before pulling away from the Alpine driver to win by almost 20 seconds. In
doing so he all but assured himself of the World title as he put 62 points
between himself and Lando Norris with only 85 still in play.
Herbert, despite applauding Verstappen’s epic drive,
couldn’t resist a comment about his previous antics.
“The title race has to be over! When you do a drive like
Max Verstappen did, you deserve to be in the position,” he told SafestBettingSites.co.uk.
“He has earned the World Championship.
“That was a stunning drive. The conditions were tricky on
a demanding track, and he dealt with it supremely.
“The first lap proved his racing mind, and ability is so
much better than anyone else at the time. He has an uncanny belief in himself
and places the car in the position that he needs to.
“The question for me again is why did he do what he did
in Mexico when he showed in Brazil he didn’t need to.
“It was brilliant to see what he did. It is showing that
maturity is coming, and his sheer speed is unbelievable.”
Champions ‘make their own luck’ says Johnny Herbert
Sunday’s result where Norris was only P6 means the McLaren
driver’s chances of winning the World title would depend on him winning every
one of the remaining three races and Verstappen completely imploding.
Norris was smarting over the timing of the Safety Car which came out after he pitted but Verstappen had not, that gave the Red Bull driver a free pit stop.
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