Writing in the February 2022 issue of Motor Sport, available later this month, Herbert says that “every aspect” of how grands prix are operated should be reviewed by the sport’s governing body, the FIA
He warns that that entertainment for TV should never take precedent over the sport because races should be won “in the most honourable way”
“This one leaves a bitter taste,” he writes. “Lewis had done absolutely nothing wrong, Red Bull had made the right calls on the strategy. Then it just seemed unfair that Lewis lost it when he had no chance of a fight.
“So what should have happened? The track was clear, but there wasn’t time to let the unlapped cars past. They should have been released to race with the five unlapped cars remaining in between Hamilton and Verstappen. That way it could have been a two-lap shootout, with Max having to pass those cars before he got to Lewis. That’s more racy than giving Max such an advantage.
“What we’ve had this year has been very positive for F1 because it has got people talking about it again, which hasn’t been the case for a long time. We didn’t need the last lap to make it exciting.”
However, Herbert calls Verstappen a “deserving champion” and says that neither driver should take any blame for what unfolded.