FIA Drops Johnny Herbert as Steward Due to Media Conflict

Former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert has been dropped as a grand prix steward by the FIA due to a conflict of interest with his media duties as a pundit.

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has announced that former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert will no longer serve as a grand prix steward, citing a conflict of interest with his media duties. Herbert, a three-time Formula One winner and Le Mans 24 Hours champion, had been scheduled to officiate at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

The decision comes after Herbert's comments as a media pundit last season drew criticism from four-time world champion Max Verstappen and his father Jos. Herbert had questioned Verstappen's track behavior, and has continued to offer opinions on various websites since then. The FIA has deemed that his role as a steward and his media commitments are incompatible.

In a statement, 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.” The governing body acknowledged Herbert's valuable experience and expertise but emphasized the need for stewards to remain impartial. The statement continued, “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.”

It is with regret that we announce that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA#FIA pic.twitter.com/e6CTWtAWJZ

— FIA (@fia) January 29, 2025

The FIA expressed gratitude for Herbert's service and wished him well in his future endeavors. “We thank him for his service and wish him well in his future endeavours,” the statement concluded. As a steward, Herbert's role would have involved ensuring that the rules were applied consistently and fairly during race weekends, with the power to apply punishments if necessary. There was no immediate comment from Herbert regarding the decision.