In an exclusive interview with Top Offshore Sportsbooks, F1 icon Nigel Mansell says Lewis Hamilton will ‘step up a gear’ & challenge for a World Title in debut Ferrari season. Mansell also hints at a shock move for Max Verstappen in 2025. 

Key Stories From The Interview

• Mansell backs Norris to win championship, despite ‘Unfortunate’ mistake made against Verstappen
• Mansell assesses McLaren team orders debate: ‘It’s up to Lando Norris to step up’
• Lando ‘very fortunate’ to be at McLaren and should be ‘cementing’ contract extension
• Nigel claims Ferrari was ‘short sighted’ to not be ready to pay a big salary to Adrian Newey
• Hamilton will be ‘in a different gear’ at Ferrari
• Mansell hints at Max Verstappen joining Mercedes
• Fernando Alonso deserves another chance to lead Aston Martin next season

Full Transcript

on Lando Norris

Q:  Do you think Lando Norris can overcome Max Verstappen at this stage of the championship?

Nigel Mansell: “Well, anything can happen. The season’s not over until you go past the chequered flag on the last race. I’ve got to say Lando was extremely unlucky in Baku.

Lando was on a very important lap in Q1. I think in hindsight, I probably wouldn’t have seen the yellow flag, I’d have still gone for it. And as it would have happened, there wouldn’t have been any penalty at all because the marshall put the wrong flag out. So the point I want to make is, Lando had a very unfortunate situation happen to him, which was not his fault or the team’s fault. But then to recover like he did in the race was fantastic.

I think getting fourth or so would have been sixth, but then Red Bull and Ferrari decided to come together on the last but one lap. But it was a great race for McLaren and what a fantastic job they’re doing. I think he (Norris) can overhaul Max because Red Bull have had fantastic reliability so far and Max (Verstappen) only has to have one retirement or problem [to let Lando in].

I think the other very unfortunate thing is that Lando made the mistake of trying to overtake Verstappen on the outside in Austria. Because you can’t overtake a several time World Champion on the outside. And that race was his to win, and he could be 25 points even closer now. So I still think there’s a great chance for him to have a good go at the championship.” 

Q: Oscar Piastri drove brilliantly in Baku. Do you think it could be a problem for Lando Norris in the coming years?

Nigel Mansell: “Well no, I don’t think in the coming years, I think it’s a problem now!

I mean, a problem, let’s qualify that. I don’t think it’s a problem at all. I think the young man (Oscar Piastri) demonstrated such maturity to be under that pressure from Ferrari for so many laps and to win the race in the way he did, all credit to him. I think it was marvellous, but also I think people must understand it’s an incredible achievement for the McLaren team to give both drivers cars capable of winning. You know, the days have gone when you’re number one or number two driver, because the capability of supplying two cars as competitive as one another is absolutely brilliant. So he did a great job. And I think going forward, I think it’s marvellous for the team. I don’t think it’s a problem for either one of them because they’ll keep one another honest.

If you have two quick drivers in the team, it pushes the team forward. If you got a real dominant number one. And not a very good number two. It doesn’t push the team because then you rely on the number one driver all the time. So I think McLaren have two fabulous drivers.”

Q: Speaking of Lando and Oscar, what do you make of team orders in F1? 

Nigel Mansell: “I think it’s fantastic. If you’ve got a chance to actually win the championship or constructors championship and one driver can help the other – I think the perfect example if you look back over the years is Sergio (Perez), he did a fantastic job with Red Bull. If you remember in the last race for Max (Verstappen) that one year, holding Lewis Hamilton up and years before when Lewis did it to a few people and other people.

“I think it adds a new interest. I think both Oscar and Lando are very blessed that McLaren is such a fantastic team now. What they’ve done this year to come from not being very competitive at the beginning of the year to being competitive, sort of a third of the way through the year, and then halfway through the year having a race winning car. In my opinion, they’ve probably got the best car out there at the moment. So they’ll handle it superbly and between them I think they’ll sort it out if it comes into place because you can’t give away a place if you’re not the car behind.

So if someone’s winning the race and your teammates in third, then that’s a strong call to give the race win away. However, if you do that because you can still win the championship, you do it. But if it’s Max in between, then how are you going to do it?

So it’s going to be on a race by race basis. But I think it’s just incredibly professional that the team have come and shared their view on what’s going to happen for the rest of the year. But I think it’s up to Lando to step up because he’s got to be at least as quick, if not quicker than Oscar and get the job done. And like Lando said himself, he’d like to do it on his own merit. So yeah, I mean the pressure’s on both of them.” 

Q: Do you think McLaren in any way made a mistake by not prioritising Lando over Piastri earlier in the season?

Nigel Mansell: “No, not really, because both drivers early on in the season made mistakes. I mean, the howler of a mistake in Austria that Lando made was basically 25, 26 points. So, you know, you can argue all sorts of different things. I think McLaren have acted incredibly professionally for both drivers. They’ve done a stunning job for them and themselves and they’re to be congratulated.” 

Q: You said you regretted leaving McLaren so soon. Lando’s contract with McLaren is up in 2025, do you think he should stay put?

Nigel Mansell: “Personally, I think Lando is a very fortunate driver, where if you’ve got the best team, the best car and are capable of winning – why on earth would you look anywhere else?

I think he should be cementing the relationship with McLaren and building a bigger and better future. What I would be doing in his, anybody of that age, what I’d be looking for is a minimum of a three or five year program.

I think if you can have a contract long enough to put all the effort and work in and for instance, with the new regulations coming in 2026, I’d hate to have a contract just for one or two years because the teams might get it right in 26, but if they don’t get it right in 26, it’ll be better in 27. And if they haven’t got it right in 27, it should be really good in 28.

And then if you’re with a really good team, then what you want is continuity. So it’s a great question and a difficult one to answer because if you are in the top elite such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, even Alonso, at the height of your game you get number one picks.” 

on Adrian Newey

Q: Adrian Newey’s move to Aston Martin, huge news in F1. What was your experience of working with Newey like and how much do you think his absence will affect Red Bull in the future?

Nigel Mansell: “I think it’s a marvellous opportunity for him {Adrian Newey}.

And I think the fact that he’s gone to Aston Martin is so wise because he won’t get caught up in the politics of Ferrari and the hype that goes with that. I think Ferrari should be licking their wounds a little bit because they should have got him, but all credit to Aston Martin. I think what he can do at Aston Martin could be his biggest achievement to come yet because I think he can turn that team around very quickly. I think next year they’re going to be even more competitive than what they’ve been this year. And Red Bull, they’ve already just demonstrated without him, they’ve lost their dominance. What’s the one thing that they’ve lost? Adrian Newey.” 

Q: Did it surprise you that he didn’t feel more tempted to link up with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari? 

Nigel Mansell: “No, not really. As soon as I heard that Ferrari were baulking at possibly the wage bill that Adrian wanted. I think that was short sighted of them.

They lost an opportunity because whoever gets Adrian Newey is almost assured of having a fantastic few years. And I think Aston Martin have done something very special in securing his services. I think people have underestimated as well that I don’t think Adrian was totally happy in the last few years with Red Bull and what a fantastic job he’s done and I think now being in the UK, being with Aston Martin, I think Adrian will find a little bit more energy and a bit more direction. And if he feels comfortable, which I’m sure he does with Aston Martin, I think watch this space. I think he could do something very special.” 

on Lewis Hamilton

Q: Lewis Hamilton, can he live up to expectations in the Ferrari? And what do you think will be going on in his head?

Nigel Mansell: “I’ve been a Lewis (Hamilton) fan all the time and I predicted he’d be one of the best of the best ever.

He’s done that. He gets a lot of criticism. I think what he’s done now to end his career in Formula One, going to Ferrari is a magical step for him. He won’t realise, having been an ex-Formula One Ferrari driver, to drive for Ferrari is something incredibly special and he’ll feed off that. Give Lewis the car, he’ll get the job done. And so I predict that he will have a fabulous time at Ferrari. He’ll go into a different gear. He’ll be motivated again. And I expect Lewis to challenge for the World Championship in 2025. Lewis is eccentric at times, but Lewis is a class act. Nobody can take away his achievements. Yes, he’s had the most fantastic cars and support and everything else. But Lewis is great. And personally, I hope he pulls it off next year.” 

on Max Verstappen

Q: Max Verstappen, Aston Martin or Mercedes….which is the better move?

Nigel Mansell: “I think this is the fantastic thing about Formula One. Anything’s possible and Max being the reigning World Champion and he’s got an unbelievable advantage to win another World Championship this year.

And with all the things that have been happening with Red Bull you have got to take your hat off to Max that he’s kept his concentration. His car’s not as competitive as the others at the moment and he’s done some fantastic drives. I think watch this space again. I think the merry go round he could be moving to Mercedes. But it’s going to be interesting and hopefully Red Bull will be able to keep him. I think he’s under contract anyway, but I know having been in Formula One, anything is possible!” 

on Fernando Alonso

Q: What do you make of Alonso and Lance Stroll as a drive team? 

Nigel Mansell: “I think it’s fabulous. And I think if they hold their own council, they should give Alonso the opportunity to lead the team again with Lance next year.

Because I think given the car, 43 is no age if you keep yourself fit. I mean, I know I retired and walked away at 41, but it wasn’t because I wasn’t fit. It’s because the politics in Formula One was just absolutely crazy. I think Aston Martin could be the surprise of any team next year and certainly the year after. But I hope they keep him on. I really do.” 

Nigel Mansell’s F1 career

Q: What was your favourite circuit to drive back in the day?

Nigel Mansell: “We had Dallas, street circuit, Phoenix street circuit then Las Vegas around the car park.

There was some really weird races we went to. But my favourite race is the old circuit at Silverstone, and that was a very brave circuit where you had to hang on to everything. The old Österreichring. The old Hockenheim ring. But all those circuits have been changed beyond recognition now for safety reasons. But there were some fabulous circuits in the past, and there’s some fabulous circuits now.

Monza is very traditional. Silverstone is still an absolutely fantastic circuit. I think it is one of the best in the world, but there are so many I could mention, I could end up mentioning them all for different reasons. So there’s some great racing circuits.” 

Q: Which 3 drivers are the greatest F1 drivers of all time? 

Nigel Mansell: “Juan Manuel Fangio definitely would figure as one of them.

I’ll never forget the story of him having his leg burned by the exhaust in the car, driving with third degree burns and chewing a coca leaf at the time to take away the pain. In those days they seemed to do anything but the amazing thing for me is they didn’t have seatbelts in the car. They didn’t have a proper racing helmet either. So Fangio for one 100%.

So the other two I’d put up there straight away because of their achievements, are obviously Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. Lewis has done an outstanding job. So there’s three straight away.” 

Q: You were being chased down by Michael Schumacher in the rain during the 1992 Spanish Grand Prix but held him off to win. Do you wish you’d have had more duels like that with him?

Nigel Mansell: “It was fantastic and even all these years later, I can vividly remember it.

I thought I had the race under control and I was driving within the parameters of the car and the grip and I just kept looking at the board every lap I went past and Michael was catching me by one second, one and a half, two seconds a lap. And I was thinking ‘Well, what am I doing wrong?’. And so I pushed it a bit harder and almost had an accident on the one corner sliding out towards the barrier. And then just before I was going to have an accident, the car gripped and I went into the corner quicker.

So then I changed my lines completely on the next lap and all of a sudden I was a second per lap quicker, which slowed his progress down. And then the lap after that I got confidence on the new lines and I was able to go quicker again. But it was only because I pushed it and almost had an accident that I found this other grip. Some tracks are very strange because sometimes in the rain you get grip on the line and other times, if you go anywhere near the line, it’s slippery. You have to go outside the line to get the grip, but it is different on every corner. Anyway, it was a fantastic race and I was genuinely thinking I’m not going to be able to win this and then all of a sudden you get this encouragement that you do in the car and I was able to drive away a little bit there.”  

Q: Do you feel like there’s an element of modern day Formula One that doesn’t recapture that because the cars are so much more technically superior?

Nigel Mansell: “I think it’s a very good point that you mentioned there. I think the thing that people haven’t appreciated in years gone past is that we had one roll bar that you move to stiffen up the front or loosen the front.

We had adjustment brake balance and that was it. So our cars, when it was on full fuel would have a balance of such, and then half tanks the balance would change to either a little bit of oversteer or understeer, but we had to manage the balance of the car. Through three different points through the race, we had to adjust our driving style to what the car gave us. And now the present day cars stay in balance all the time because they have a number of engineers, micromanaging various systems on the car, and they can tell the driver to adjust various things so the car stays in balance. That gives the drivers less to think about and makes the parameters a lot easier to work with, but we didn’t have that facility.

So the drivers of yesteryear really had to understand how the car was going to change. And that’s why when we were testing, we did empty tanks, half tanks, full tanks to see what the car was going to be like. And the hardest thing we had was adjusting the ride height of the car to make sure the car would stay in some sort of balance for the whole race, but more often than not, maybe 10 or 20 laps of the race, every single driver who is racing a Grand Prix was struggling to keep the car on the circuit. 

The biggest thing that I think Formula One has lost, for safety reasons, is that on some tracks, we used to come into the pit lane at 200 miles an hour. We used to race to a standing stop and knock mechanics over at times. And then the fastest exit speed was about 190 miles an hour out of the pits. And the visibility of that, that we race for years and years and years, obviously is lost forever more for all the right reasons, because for safety. But I can tell you as a driver, having lived through that era, that was the most exhilarating, the most dangerous, and fascinating time because to have the car, the teams and stopping on the spot when you’re coming in with the hair on fire was the most amazing experience.” 

Q: Some of the injuries and crashes from your career and era have gone down in the sport’s mythology. How did you bounce back from some of those horrendous accidents?

Nigel Mansell: “I think in years gone by you used to be able to see how great a driver was not from the successes they were having, but… when I went to IndyCar Racing, I asked a couple of great champions, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, ‘How do you drive ovals? What’s the difference? Can you give me any tips?’ And A.J. Foyt said, ‘Yes, don’t turn right or you’ll eat concrete!’ And then Mears was saying it was like a stone on a piece of string. You keep spinning it, spin it, spin it until the string breaks and then you’re going to hit the wall. He said, there’s two types of drivers. The ones who’ve not hit the wall, but the ones who are going to hit the wall. You’re always going to hit the wall. 

The accidents that we would have in Formula One back then… I was driving within 10 days of having a major surgery. 148 stitches in my back, pulling 5G and having the stitches pulled out. But if you didn’t do it, someone else was in your car. You got replaced. And I think the astonishing thing with the FIA and that fateful day in 1994, where over the weekend two drivers lost their lives; Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna.

Between the manufacturers and the FIA the improvement of the tracks and improving safety of the cars and moving away the barriers from very, very fast corners, other than sadly one loss of life in 30 years, it’s just been absolutely amazing. But of course what you don’t have with these incredible stories, how people bounce back from an incredible accident. 

So just to prove my point, back in our day, if you had a career of 187 Grands Prix, and are still alive and able to walk, because both my feet are smashed, as well as other things, I broke my back three times, you’re a very lucky person. Now you have race car drivers doing over 300 Grands Prix with no injuries! I mean, how wonderful is that? What a wonderful workplace to have to be able to drive the fastest cars in the world and feel very comfortable that, you know, you’re not going to get hurt. Congratulations to all the technology, the FIA, the teams and the drivers too but you know, what a wonderful opportunity that they’ve got now.”