Ex-Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert will no longer serve as an FIA steward because it is “incompatible” with his continuing media work.
Herbert started working in what has become commonly known as a ‘driver steward’ role in 2010.
He was one of the first added to the stewards’ room as part of an initiative to consistently have an experienced racing driver’s perspective among the officials.
The three-time grand prix victor and Le Mans 24 Hours winner also embarked on a successful broadcasting career once he stopped racing, primarily as a pundit for Sky Sports F1 from 2012 to 2022.
He left the Sky presenting team ahead of 2023 but has continued working in the media, which sparked controversy in 2024 as he made critical comments about Max Verstappen while also serving as a steward at several races.
It led to Verstappen describing the remarks as “abnormal” while his father Jos made a thinly veiled comment about some stewards not liking his son and having “more sympathy for certain drivers”.
Herbert used a column for a betting website to defend his opinions and 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”.
He insisted that "when I am a steward, I do not express any opinions” and comments made by Herbert in another interview published by a gambling website in January this year were widely interpreted to mean he would work as a steward again in 2025.
The Race understands that Herbert had initially been part of the FIA’s plan for the rotation of stewards this year, although avoiding a repeat of what happened in 2024 would be crucial to making that work given the perception of bias that it triggered.
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.”
Herbert responded with a social media statement in which he said he was "very grateful" for his time as an FIA steward and had "thoroughly enjoyed" it, while also arguing that he had always remained impartial.
"It is a difficult job and there are tough decisions that have to be made," Herbert wrote.
"As stewards, we have and will continue to treat both drivers and team personnel with the utmost respect and remain impartial at all times during all F1 grand prix weekends."
