Hamilton had the edge over Russell, particularly on race day in F1 2023, finishing five places ah🔯ead of him i🌌n the final championship standings.

However, in qualifying, the pair were evenly matched, with the head-to-head equal at 11🔯-11. 

Mercedes ultimately went winless for the first time since 2🅷011 as Red Bullꦫ won 21 of the 22 races.

Herbert, who won three F🤪1 races during his impressive career, believes Mercedes are still capable of producing a world championship-winning machine.

“But I still think there are enough clever people at Mercedes to be able to 𝔉produce a car that can actually win races and win a world championship, yes, absolutely,” he told .

“Potentially, the guy that’s going to make it difficult if they get those in🦩gredients altogether is George. 

“I think George will probably be the one that may, where it might slip away, because George, I think is more than capable of being able to lead a team and has enough willpower, mental capacity, to absorb all the pressures that come when you win races and are nearer to a worldꦬ championship. 

“So I think he could be the one th🍃at maybe stops 𒁏that eighth, but I think overall he’s still got the drive, that’s for sure, Lewis.”