Verstappen’s 'Mentality' Criticized by Former F1 Steward Herbert

Johnny Herbert claims penalties won’t alter Verstappen’s aggressive driving, believing he’s talented enough not to need such tactics.

Johnny Herbert served as the advisory race steward in Mexico thanks to his background as a former F1 driver. The Briton was involved in imposing heavy sanctions on Max Verstappen, stating that although he understood the Dutchman’s intentions, they should not become a standard approach. However, Herbert believes that Verstappen is unlikely to alter his driving style.

“Verstappen’s entire intention was to try to let Ferrari secure a one-two finish. I think that’s certainly what he aimed and tried to achieve; I understand why he did it, but I don’t agree with it, and I don’t think many people do,” said Herbert.

“‘Fair racing’ is something Norris has already mentioned, and it’s the kind of battle he wants to have. I don’t see Verstappen’s driving changing because the number one objective is to prevent Norris from closing the gap in the Drivers’ Championship. We potentially have a lot of exciting races ahead.”

Herbert defended the severity of Verstappen’s penalty, affirming that the panel of four stewards was unified: “These are the guidelines we followed, and the teams agreed with our decisions. The correct decision was made; the 20-second penalty for Max Verstappen was not excessive.”

“Was Verstappen’s driving style on the edge or excessive? Yes, it was. His driving was severe, especially when he forces another driver off the track. For me, that’s an absolute no-go, for current drivers, former drivers, and stewards alike.”

“I’m a big fan of Verstappen, and it frustrates me immensely when he drives as he did in Mexico. He doesn’t need to do it; he’s so good in the cockpit, and at this stage of the Championship, he just needs to stay out of trouble and drive as well as he can.”

“When Verstappen falls into this terrible mindset of trying to gain an advantage by forcing another driver off the track to let Ferrari secure a one-two, that’s when Verstappen needs to know he doesn’t have to do that.”

“It’s enough to win as cleanly as possible. The attitude among the stewards was genuinely positive, and our decision was clear because the guidelines instruct us on what to look at and how to handle the situation.”

“When we imposed two ten-second penalties on Max Verstappen, we were all in agreement. It’s always essential to remember that four stewards make these decisions.”

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believed the stewards in Mexico wanted to “set an example” with Verstappen and their “harsh punishment,” which included adding two penalty points to his super license.

“The issue is that the stewards decide one way or another. There’s no clear line, no consistency. We don’t necessarily need these former racing drivers—we need professional stewards. Neutral people who make objective decisions based on fixed rules.”

Herbert, however, insists that the stewards are simply following the guidelines established by the FIA when making decisions.

“There always seems to be an issue with the idea that we British stewards are biased. But when we’re in that room, we adhere to the FIA’s rules and guidelines.”

“Saying it’s biased is utterly ridiculous and not the case. We strive as much as possible to be fair in our judgment.”

“The issue lies with the tactics we’re seeing on the track. The stewards won’t change anything in Brazil. We have the guidelines, and we’ll stick to them.”