- Sky Sports F1 pundit Johnny Herbert has lost his job as an FIA steward
- Herbert criticised Max Verstappen last year before the driver’s dad hit back
Johnny Herbert has been ousted from his role as an FIA steward, with the governing body hinting at an irreconcilable clash between his media commitments and his officiating duties.
The move comes months after Herbert, a former Formula One driver turned Sky Sports pundit, found himself on the receiving end of sharp words from Jos Verstappen following his criticism of son Max Verstappen’s driving style in Mexico last year.
Herbert, a three-time Grand Prix winner, voiced his concerns over Verstappen’s aggressive approach after the Dutchman was slapped with a 20-second penalty in October.
The world champion’s father hit back by declaring: ‘I think a steward shouldn’t talk to the press at all and just deliver work all the time. And that’s certainly not the case now.’
Three months on, the FIA announced on Wednesday morning that Herbert would no longer be part of the stewarding panel, including for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.
A statement from the governing body read: ‘It is with regret that we announce today that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA.
Sky Sports pundit Johnny Herbert, pictured (left) wearing a novelty necklace made of garlic and a beret at the 2018 Grand Prix of France, has lost his job as an FIA steward
Herbert was critical of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen during last year’s Grand Prix of Mexico
‘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.’
Herbert had persistently maintained that his views as a pundit should not have influenced his credibility as a race official.
Speaking in November, he remarked: ‘As I have always said, I am Johnny Herbert the steward and the professional during a race weekend, and Johnny Herbert a pundit at other times who expresses what he thinks.
‘The racetrack has been my world for 50 years. If I don’t quite agree with what I see on the racetrack, I will say so. It is not just Max. I’ll criticise anyone if I feel it is warranted. I understand it from Jos’s point of view because it is his son. Is there any bias? No, of course not. I wasn’t the only one to think that Max was over the top in Mexico. Lando Norris and Zak Brown thought so too.’