Herbert Rebuts Verstappen’s Claims of Bias in F1 Commentary

Johnny Herbert dismisses Jos Verstappen’s accusations of bias, defending his impartiality in F1 commentary and stewardship decisions.

Johnny Herbert came under scrutiny from Jos Verstappen after expressing critical views on Max Verstappen during his role as a Sky Sports consultant, which led Jos to accuse him of a conflict of interest following the penalties Herbert was involved in issuing to Max at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Furthermore, the Dutchman requested that the three-time Grand Prix winner refrain from commenting on his son in the media while serving as a consultant. This prompted the former driver to speak out in his defence.

“As I’ve always said, I am Johnny Herbert the steward and the professional on a race weekend, and Johnny Herbert the commentator at other times, sharing my views. When I’m a steward, I don’t express any opinion. Everyone has an opinion,” Herbert stated.

“Why shouldn’t I have one when I’m not on the circuit? The track has been my world for 50 years. If I disagree with what I see on the track, I’ll say so. This isn’t just about Max. I’ll criticise anyone if I believe it’s warranted.”

“I understand Jos’s point of view because it’s his son. Is there bias? No, certainly not. I wasn’t the only one who felt Max crossed the line in Mexico. Lando Norris and Zak Brown thought the same.”

“I talk to people on Mondays or Tuesdays, but that’s not part of my role as a steward. Jos has always been very vocal about matters at Red Bull. Is that his stance? It’s quite similar. If you have an opinion and want to express it, you should.”

Herbert also believes McLaren and Lando Norris should have no regrets about 2024 but instead focus on preparing for 2025: “McLaren and Lando missed out on seven points in Hungary because they let Piastri win, and that’s something they need to be aware of for next season.”

“Will they lose the championship this year? No, because they’ve always been behind. They could have scored more points, but that’s racing. Max was leading and didn’t win after June. McLaren will learn from this year and enter the next season with a stronger mindset. Lando will head into 2025 knowing he can beat Max.”