Christian Horner says that Johnny Herbert’s decision to step down as a commissioner has to do with his work as a media expert and not with Max Verstappen
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says that Johnny Herbert’s departure as Formula 1 commissioner has “absolutely nothing” to do with Max Verstappen, but that it is “inappropriate” for the Briton to continue making statements in the media alongside his role as a Formula 1 steward.
Herbert was dismissed by the FIA as Formula One commissioner this week. It was “mutually agreed” that his work as a driver commissioner and his role as a media expert were “incompatible”.
Last season, there was a lot of excitement about comments made by the 60-year-old, who gave his expert opinion on various casino websites. Among other things, he had criticized Verstappen for his driving after the Mexico Grand Prix – where Herbert was a commissioner and had imposed two ten-second penalties on him.
Verstappen himself had said that it was “not normal” for Herbert to be an objective race commissioner during the race weekend on the one hand, but to give his personal opinion in interviews only a short time later.
It is with regret that we announce that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIAFIA pic.twitter.com/e6CTWtAWJZ
— FIA (@fia) January 29, 2025
The FIA apparently saw it that way too and released the former Formula 1 driver from his duties before the 2025 season.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner denies that this is related to his driver: “It has absolutely nothing to do with Max,” Horner told Sky Sports News, but at the same time emphasized: “It is absolutely the right decision.”
Because: “You can’t have stewards who work in the media,” he clarifies. “There is no such thing in the Premier League, there is no such thing in any other form of professional sport. It’s completely inappropriate. You’re either on the side of the stewards or on the side of the media.”
Horner makes it clear: “You can’t have a foot in both camps.”
Herbert himself justified himself as follows last year: “During a race weekend, I am Johnny Herbert, the steward and professional, and at other times, I am Johnny Herbert, the expert who expresses his opinion. When I am a steward, I do not express any opinion.”
After his stint, however, he remained neutral and thanked the FIA for the opportunity to work as a steward.