For years Johnny Herbert stood as a suspicious presence among FIA stewards. The former British driver was on numerous occasions accused of harming, in particular, two competitors, Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen, in an effort to benefit the English. Now he himself has confirmed that it was indeed the case.
Herbert, who more than a year ago was dismissed by the FIA over murky ties to the world of betting, has now broken his silence to explain what was evident: the stewards, mostly British, lobby in favor of drivers of their own nationality. Especially, with Lewis Hamilton.
Herbert is responsible for some of the most surreal penalties in Formula 1
Years and years of suspicions about Johnny Herbert, and other FIA stewards, have turned out not to be paranoia. The former driver and ex-steward, dismissed by the FIA a year and a half ago, has broken his silence to confirm what was obvious: decisions are made in favor of the English drivers. And he points to Lewis Hamilton.
When questioned about the rumors, Herbert did not hesitate to confess the reality, insisting that “we are British and Lewis Hamilton is British. Of course we will support a British driver”. He didn’t need to confirm it, but his words already clear up any kind of doubt.
In fact, Herbert asserted that “you are Dutch, you back Max and you accuse us of bias, but you want us to back Max“, referring to his interviewer, the Dutch outlet Vision4Sport. For Herbert, the neutrality of a judge and that of a journalist or a fan should be the same, it seems.
Herbert is remembered for delivering some of the most absurd calls ever seen, such as when he handed Fernando Alonso a 30-second penalty “for blowing dirty air” at Briton George Russell in Australia, purportedly causing an accident. In reality, Herbert’s long-standing animosity toward Alonso goes back many years.
Verstappen also received a 20-second penalty in Mexico 2024 while contending for the world title against the British driver Lando Norris. A penalty that led Jos Verstappen to demand that “the composition of the stewards be thoroughly examined, who appoint them to these positions, and whether there is any appearance of conflicts of interest.”
Now Herbert is no longer among Formula 1’s stewards, but he voices a familiar refrain: ‘Another one will come who will do you good’. For the moment, the confession remains in limbo.
Images | Aston Martin, FIA, Ferrari
