Herbert no longer FIA steward: The controversy around the former F1 driver
F1 News
- Nicole Mulder
From the 2025 Formula One season onwards, Johnny Herbert will no longer be an FIA steward during Grand Prix weekends. The decision puts an end to the increasingly loud calls for the removal of Herbert from his voluntary position because of possible conflicts of interest. What made the former F1 driver so controversial in recent times?
How Herbert became controversial as FIA steward
The FIA announced on Wednesday that they are parting ways with Herbert. The announcement came days after it was announced that he would stay on in his position and take up that role during the first race weekend of the year in Melbourne at the Australian GP. However, the governing body feels that his duties as steward are no longer compatible with his - paid - presence in the media, especially on betting sites, where he regularly expresses his stone-cold opinions about several drivers and teams.
In the past year, the 60-year-old Briton was criticised on several occasions. One example was the community service penalty Max Verstappen received, that was proposed among others by Herbert, after the Red Bull Racing driver cursed during the FIA's press conference. A punishment, incidentally, that was not repeated when other drivers used similar swear words during later press conferences.
Herbert repeatedly critical of Verstappen
Afterwards, Herbert said that he could appreciate the way in which Verstappen then protested the penalty. In Singapore, the Dutchman hardly said a word during FIA press conferences after the penalty was imposed, and instead answered questions of the press outside. However, the former F1 driver was often less positive about the Dutchman.
After the Mexican Grand Prix, where Herbert, as a steward, was also part of the crew that handed out two 10-second time penalties to Verstappen, he fiercely criticised the Dutchman in an interview with a betting site. The Briton felt that Verstappen had a 'hideous mindset', a statement that did not go down well with the four-time world champion.
Moreover, Herbert repeatedly stated that Verstappen 'intimidates' other drivers. He then applauded George Russell for his fierce response to Verstappen after their disagreement in Qatar. "I think that is needed in the sport, someone will stand up to another driver because of the comments that he might have about what happened on the racetrack," the Briton said. Later, he stressed again that he was happy that more and more drivers were daring to take on the 'intimidating' Verstappen.
Herbert's position as a steward became untenable
Jos Verstappen was among those who spoke out about a possible conflict of interest, although the former F1 driver did not name anyone in particular. Among other things, Verstappen Sr questioned the ethics of a steward also giving interviews in which he openly criticises drivers. It was also questioned whether someone with the British nationality should be allowed to judge a competition with British competitors.
Calls for Herbert's departure as FIA steward were therefore growing louder. Not because he expressed his opinions or that he was paid to do so by betting sites: that is his right. However, such work - as the FIA themselves have since pointed out - is incompatible with his duties as an official, in which he must neutrally judge those same actions about which he has such strong opinions.
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