Johnny Herbert has responded to losing his role as an FIA steward ahead of the 2025 F1 season.
The governing body relieved him of his duties after deeming his punditry work to be “incompatible” with being a steward in F1.
Having retired from the championship as a driver in 2000, after a career spanning over a decade, Herbert was a regular in the stewards office over the past 15 years, dovetailing the role with his work as a pundit, primarily for Sky Sports F1.
However, the 60-year-old has been outspoken on incidents over the past year. This has caught the ire of Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, in particular. Herbert was vocal about his son’s driving standards on track.
Herbert’s twin roles – and now removal from his stewards position – is part of a wide debate surrounding the issue within F1.
As volunteers, the FIA does not pay stewards – save expenses – and there are growing calls for the role to be a full-time job, something that would likely see more consistency and eradicate the conflict of interest of stewards needing to seek work elsewhere in motorsport, like punditry.
Nonetheless, Herbert shared his gratitude when responding to the recent developments on social media app Instagram.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity of being an FIA Driver Steward and I have thoroughly enjoyed the role I have been involved in over the years. It is a difficult job and there are tough decisions that have to be made,” Hebert 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.
“Finally, l’m very grateful to the President and everyone at the FIA for the opportunities that I have been given.”
