Johnny Herbert has left his role as a Formula One driver steward after the FIA said his grand prix work was “incompatible” with his job as a media pundit.
Herbert attracted criticism from Max Verstappen’s camp last season for his comments about the Red Bull driver’s performance at the Mexican Grand Prix. The three-times race winner from 160 starts, who competed for an array of F1 teams in the 80s and 90s and won the Le Mans 24 Hours, had been scheduled to officiate at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.
Verstappen picked up a 20-second penalty for forcing McLaren rival Lando Norris off the track twice during the race and Herbert claimed the driving had been “harsh” and “over the top” and felt the Dutchman had a “horrible mindset”. FIA stewards work as unpaid volunteers and a panel of four stewards officiate incidents at F1 meetings.
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.”
Herbert worked as a pundit for Sky Sports F1 while he acted as an FIA steward, other than the grands prix where he was acting as an official, although the 60 year old was dropped from the broadcaster’s line-up before the 2023 F1 season.
In the wake of the announcement, the McLaren principal Zak Brown has called for permanent stewards. Brown, whose team won the constructors’ title last season, told the Autosport Business Exchange conference in London that McLaren would happily pay their share of the cost of professional officials.
“I don’t think we’re set up for success by not having full-time stewards,” said Brown. “As far as paying for stewards, this will probably be unpopular amongst my fellow teams [but] I’m happy if McLaren and all the racing teams contribute. I think it’s so important for the sport. It can’t be that expensive. If everyone contributes it’s not going to break the bank.”
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Lewis Hamilton suffered a setback in his pre-season preparations for Ferrari after he crashed during a private event at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
It is understood the 40-year-old ran off the road on his second test for his new team following his appearance at Ferrari’s Fiorano track last week. Hamilton was said by a source to be “absolutely OK” following the crash.
Ferrari are not commenting on Hamilton’s accident due to the session taking place behind closed doors. The team are in Spain completing three days of running in their 2023 car – the latest version they are allowed to use under Formula One rules – ahead of the sport’s sole official test prior to the new season in Bahrain later this month.
