The FIA has confirmed that Johnny Herbert will no longer serve as a Formula One race steward after mutually agreeing the role was “incompatible” with his media duties.
Concerns emerged last year about Herbert’s dual role, with Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, criticising him for discussing the penalty that he awarded to Max in the Mexico City Grand Prix while serving as the driver steward. Verstappen was handed 20 seconds worth of penalties for two separate incidents with title rival Lando Norris.
Herbert had said in an interview with Action Network that he did not think the penalties would deter Verstappen from forcing Norris off the track in the future.
Jos said that Herbert “shouldn’t talk to the press at all,” but the Brit denied there was any conflict, saying he was free to express his views as a pundit away from race weekends where he was the steward.
However, sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have told The Athletic that concerns arose within the FIA about Herbert publicly commenting on incidents that he oversaw as a steward, leading to discussions about his role.
The FIA has now confirmed that, following talks with Herbert, he will no longer be part of its stewarding lineup this year.
“It is with regret that we announce today that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA,” a statement on Wednesday read. “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.”
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
Herbert raced in F1 between 1989 and 2000, winning three grands prix, before becoming a pundit with Sky Sports in 2012. He left Sky Sports at the end of 2022, but continued to serve as an analyst through media interviews with some betting websites.
Alongside his media duties, Herbert also featured on the FIA’s rotating four-person panel of stewards that help officiate grands prix, essentially serving as the referees for F1 races and awarding penalties.
Herbert’s departure marks the latest change within the FIA’s officiating of races after a series of shake-ups toward the end of last year.
Race director Niels Wittich departed from his role with three races to go in the season. While the FIA claimed that he stepped down, Wittich said that he had been fired.
His exit was followed by that of long-serving steward Tim Mayer, who told BBC Sport that he had been fired by text after a disagreement with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over an investigation into a track invasion by fans after the United States Grand Prix in October.
At the end of last season, F1 drivers called on the FIA to try and ensure there was greater consistency in stewarding decisions and the awarding of penalties, with Mercedes driver George Russell being particularly vocal on the need for permanent stewards instead of the existing rotating, volunteer system.
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