Mercedes F1 News: Former Driver Claims Lewis Hamilton's "Peak Has Gone By" After Poor Miami GP

Johnny Herbert claims that Lewis Hamilton is no long "at his peak" but still brands him as

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has spoken out on Lewis Hamilton's career saying that his "peak has gone by", despite the seven-time champion's recent claims that he is in his prime. However, he doesn't see that being an issue for the Mercedes driver.

Hamilton made his F1 debut in 2007 for McLaren where he won his first championship in 2008, before moving to Mercedes in 2012 where he won his six other drivers' championships.

During an interview with ICE36, Herbert explained:

“Lewis may not be at his peak, that peak has gone by, but it is still a bloody high ability that he still possesses.

“I don’t see that being an issue at all. As we all know, for instance, if you play golf and you hit a great shot, that makes you feel, ‘I want to crack on’.

“That is the thing that can suddenly reignite that fire in Lewis which I think is slightly turned down at the moment, because it is not quite working out in the way that he wanted.”

Herbert continued:

“He is absolutely in the top-three British drivers ever. He is up against a new generation. There always has been in most decades.

“I remember Ayrton turning up and changing everything in ’84, Niki did likewise, Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark.

“Then in the modern era it’s Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher. They are the special ones who come through every decade. And I think we are seeing that now with Max, Lando and George.”

The former driver went on to add that the new generation is better than the old. He added:

“I’m of the opinion that all the new generations in any sport are better than the old ones.

“I know this sounds quite crude or surprising but it’s true because all the new sportsmen start from an earlier age – and I think this is critical.

“They are always confronted at an early age against better drivers than the average I was facing at that time.

“New generations will always be stronger and more complete, but on the other hand they will also end their careers earlier.

“I don’t think the new generations that come in at 18 years old into Formula 1 will be 40 and still racing in Formula 1.

“I think that when they are 30-35, they will finish.

“They will be burnt out because that’s how it it is.”