Johnny Herbert believes Mercedes F1, with George Russell at the forefront, could surprise the F1 grid and contend for 2026 success.
While many F1 observers predict a 2025 battle between McLaren and Ferrari, with Max Verstappen as a key arbiter, Johnny Herbert has a different view. The 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours winner believes Mercedes F1 could be the standout team and the surprise of the season.
“The surprise of 2025 could be Mercedes, who have enjoyed success over the years but not recently,” Herbert stated. “They’ve improved, but it’s still not enough. As for the other teams, they’ve lacked realism.”
“It’s time for them to unlock the potential they’ve always had. Mercedes and Toto Wolff have George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and that dynamic will be interesting to watch, to see who ultimately comes out on top. I’d say it’s George.”
Herbert is confident Russell can take on the team leader role, though he believes Mercedes’ real shot at the title could come in 2026: “George has all the ingredients needed to lead a team to race wins and championships.”
“Is it the right time for that? Well, it’s not the right moment yet. Can it happen this year? This is probably their best chance, as I think the racing will be extremely close.”
“With close racing, they’ll have opportunities to win and get closer to the title. But if we look ahead to 2026, everything will be different. No one knows what will happen then. That’s when a team must take control and set the tone. Mercedes can do that.”
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Johnny Herbert Backs Russell and Mercedes for 2026 Glory Johnny Herbert Backs Russell and Mercedes for 2026 Glory