Herbert dropped as FIA steward due to “incompatible” media punditry

The FIA has announced that former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert will no longer act as a steward for grand prix racing events.

The British driver has for many years formed part of the governing body’s pool of ex-professional racing drivers required to act as one of four stewards who serve to officiate incidents at F1 events.

There has been significant interest in Herbert’s role with the FIA since late in the 2024 season, when he was part of the stewards’ panel that twice penalised Red Bull driver Max Verstappen at the Mexican Grand Prix.

In partnership with a betting company, Herbert then commented on the decisions handed down by the body.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the FIA 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.”

Johnny Herbert, Tim Schenken

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Herbert had long held a position as a pundit with the British Sky Sports F1 television channel, including while he acted as an FIA steward – although on those weekends where he was acting as an official, he did not double up with TV work.

But the 60-year-old was dropped from Sky’s presenting line-up ahead of the 2023 F1 season.

Therefore, Autosport understands that it is his continued deals with betting companies that have led to Wednesday’s development.

Such commercial arrangements have come to prominence for several ex-F1 drivers in recent years and involve these personalities commenting on contentious decisions in the hope these words are picked up by wider media for a plug to the company involved.

As well as his comments on Verstappen’s driving in Mexico, Herbert also spoke about the Dutchman’s clash with Oscar Piastri (McLaren) at the start of the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi and the world champion’s spat with Mercedes driver George Russell ahead of that event.

F1 stewarding decisions continue to be of considerable interest, with the drivers also regularly asking for a permanent panel of such officials to be created.

Last year, this included Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director Russell – the only currently competing director of the racers’ body.

Johnny Herbert, Sky TV interviews Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, after Qualifying

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Currently, FIA stewards are unpaid volunteers, with their travel and expenses to races instead covered as part of their work.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has continued the governing body’s long-held position of resisting a move to installing permanent stewards.

He has said he would be open to creating such a body but cites funding amid a lengthy process of training new officials as the barrier.

Autosport has approached Herbert for comment on this article.