Johnny Herbert, who used to win Formula 1 races, thinks McLaren will back both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri equally next season.

McLaren had a close fight for positions between its two drivers all through the 2025 season, which had 24 races. The 'papaya rules' caused some trouble on the track now and then.

Near the end of the season, there was talk about McLaren putting more focus on Lando Norris than Oscar Piastri. Even the Australian government got involved!

But Johnny Herbert, who won three big races and used to talk about F1 on Sky, believes McLaren was fair to both Norris and Piastri. He expects things to stay the same in 2026.

I believe McLaren will be fair, and I always think it's good to be fair. "It shows who's really the best," he told NewsBettingSites.

They're both getting the support they need.

You can always point to races or moments where one guy seemed to get more help than the other. I know Oscar felt Lando got a bit more attention.

I don't think McLaren favors Norris. It all comes down to speed—who's faster.

It shows McLaren has what it takes to support both drivers.

Those decisions could've caused them bigger problems, like what happened in Monza or Hungary last year.

Those kinds of situations shouldn't happen.

You just have to let things go naturally. The drivers will react how they feel is best.

In Abu Dhabi, Lando drove smartly, and so did Oscar, who really tried to put pressure on Max.

So, it was great for McLaren in a couple of ways. They were putting pressure on the guy who was pressuring them, Max.

Lando raced perfectly and did everything he needed to.

He was always just far enough ahead of Leclerc. He knew Charles' tires would wear out, and he had the perfect plan and drive.

Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari? It's been a total disaster in the 2025 F1 season.

The real kicker? It could sting even more if Mercedes, the team he left, starts winning in F1 2026.

Is Lewis Hamilton regretting his Ferrari choice?

Tough call.

Calling it a mistake ignores his reasons for leaving Mercedes back then.

Basically, he wanted to ditch the Abu Dhabi 2021 vibes, get away from Mercedes' underperforming years, get a fresh start, and change the mood at the end of his career.

He was searching for something more, wanting to try Ferrari before quitting F1.

Love him or hate him, there was something cool about a top athlete following his heart near the end of his career and finally going after a long-time dream.

It hasn't gone as planned, mainly because the car trouble he had at Mercedes—a flawed design from the start—is the same problem he's facing at Ferrari.

So, it seems like he's the problem.

Why not? The same issues followed him from team to team, car to car.

Basically, there were many reasons—not all about winning—for Hamilton signing with Ferrari in late 2023/early 2024.

Judging it just by race results—though that's the main thing—ignores why he even wanted to drive for Ferrari.

So, from that angle, maybe he doesn't regret it.

But what about his dream to win that eighth title?

That's where it gets tricky.

Leaving Mercedes after two losing seasons in 2022/23 seems a bit quick, especially now that 2026 and the new rules are coming.

Who knows? Maybe Ferrari will nail the new rules next season. Maybe.

But it sounds like Mercedes might, with rumours saying they're getting ready for 2026 earlier than others.

Hamilton has said more than once this season that he wants to end his Ferrari stint well and not be like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, champs who didn't win the title with Ferrari.

The thing is, Fernando and Seb started okay at Ferrari.

Alonso and Ferrari were good until he lost the title at Abu Dhabi in 2010, and he never really got over it.

Vettel, though, was doomed from the start since the bosses who hired him were gone when he arrived.

But his three wins in 2015 were a good start before things went downhill after a tough 2016 season.

Hamilton's Ferrari time, however, has been rough since the SF-25 came out in February, and he's already at his breaking point.

The fact that they seem annoyed with each other so early suggests this can't be fixed.

Maybe Hamilton's real mistake was not admitting that his only shot at an eighth title was gone in the mess of Abu Dhabi 2021.

If he'd been more real with himself—admitted he's getting older and just wanted a blast in the red car and then sayonara, as Mark Webber said about Vettel in 2014—instead of focusing on another title, this would be easier for everyone.

The worst thing for him now?

Watching Mercedes, the car he left, win the title with George Russell driving next season.

Now that would be the ultimate insult.

Think Hamilton regrets his Ferrari move now? Just wait until 2026.