F1 icon Johnny Herbert AXED from role he’s held for 15 years just months after Max Verstappen row
JOHNNY HERBERT has been axed from his F1 driver steward role after 15 years of service, the FIA have confirmed.
The FIA said Herbert’s panel job was “incompatible” with his media work after the Englishman clashed with Max Verstappen last year.
A statement from the FIA on Wednesday said: “It is with regret that we announce today that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA.
“Johnny is widely respected and brought invaluable experience and expertise to his role.
“However, after discussion, it was mutually agreed that his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible.
“We thank him for his service and wish him well in his future endeavours.”
The former driver provided his opinions on F1 in the media via various outlets during the 2024 season.
Herbert found himself in hot water with Verstappen’s camp for his comments about the Red Bull driver’s performance at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Herbert had been on the four-person stewards’ panel who handed Verstappen two 10-second time penalties in Mexico for clashes with title rival Lando Norris.
Verstappen’s dad Jos openly questioned whether it is a good idea for stewards who apply the rules in races to also have a platform to share such strong opinions in public.
He told Dutch media: “The FIA should take a good look at the staffing of the stewards, who they put there and whether there is no appearance of a conflict of interest.”