F1 veteran and race steward Johnny Herbert is standing firm against accusations of bias from Jos Verstappen, who recently claimed Herbert has it out for his son, Max Verstappen. The controversy erupted after Max was penalized for forcing McLaren’s Lando Norris off the track twice during the Mexico City Grand Prix, leading to 20 seconds worth of penalties.
Herbert’s blunt assessment of Verstappen’s actions stirred the pot: “I don’t see Verstappen’s driving changing because the number one goal is to stop Norris from closing the gap for the drivers’ championship.” Jos Verstappen, unhappy with the penalties and Herbert’s remarks, fired back, calling on the FIA to “take a good look” at the stewards, particularly ex-drivers who might “have more sympathy for certain drivers or teams.”
In response, Herbert defended both his professionalism and his freedom to voice opinions when off-duty. “I am Johnny Herbert the steward and the professional during a race weekend, and Johnny Herbert a pundit at other times,” he said, clarifying that his criticisms as a pundit don’t reflect bias in his stewarding role. “If I don’t quite agree with what I see on the track, I’ll say so. It’s not just Max—I’ll criticize anyone if I feel it’s warranted.”
Herbert pointed out that he wasn’t alone in finding Verstappen’s moves too aggressive; McLaren’s Norris and Zak Brown shared his view. Furthermore, he noted a certain irony in Jos Verstappen’s vocal complaints, given that Jos has frequently spoken out on controversies at Red Bull himself. “Jos has always been outspoken about what’s happening at Red Bull. Is that his position to be? If you have an opinion and you want to make it, then you can.”
Max Verstappen, feeling targeted, remarked, “I’ve got the wrong passport for this paddock,” suggesting a bias against him by the British stewards. However, Herbert brushed off such claims, reiterating that any criticism he has is based on conduct, not nationality.
As the F1 world debates the boundaries between stewardship and punditry, Herbert remains unapologetic, committed to calling it as he sees it—both on and off the track.
