Horner: Removing Herbert as FIA F1 steward “the right decision”

Pink Bull workforce boss Christian Horner believes Method 1’s governing physique the FIA was proper to half methods with steward Johnny Herbert.

On Wednesday the FIA said that Herbert, a long-time driver steward because the veteran of 160 grand prix begins, would no longer act as a steward at race weekends.

The FIA felt Herbert’s media actions, particularly these as a pundit for playing web sites, had been incompatible with the position of a steward.

“Johnny is broadly revered and introduced invaluable expertise and experience to his position,” the FIA communicated. “Nevertheless, after dialogue, it was mutually agreed that his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit had been incompatible.”

Pink Bull chief Horner, whose driver Max Verstappen was frequently at odds with Herbert final 12 months, mentioned the 60-year-old’s removing was the proper determination, although refuting ideas the four-time world champion had something to do with the matter.

“Effectively, firstly, completely nothing to do with Max, however completely the precise determination,” Horner advised Sky Sports activities F1 on the Autosport Awards in London. “You can not have stewards working within the media. You do not have it within the Premiership. You have no different type of skilled sport. It’s very inappropriate.

“You are both on the sporting regulatory aspect otherwise you’re on the media aspect. You may’t have a foot in each camps.”

Verstappen’s father Jos had additionally been crucial of Herbert’s twin roles, saying “a steward should not discuss to the press in any respect”, whereas Herbert felt there was no battle of curiosity between his totally different actions.

“I’m Johnny Herbert the steward and the skilled throughout a race weekend and Johnny Herbert a pundit at different instances, who expresses what he thinks,” he mentioned in November. “After I do converse to folks on a Monday or Tuesday that’s exterior my stewarding duties.”

Herbert’s dismissal for taking up punditry gigs additional highlighted a need by many in motorsport for FIA stewards to grow to be full-time professionals as a substitute of counting on part-time volunteers, a stance taken by McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

“To have part-time, unpaid stewards in a multi-billion-dollar sport the place the whole lot is on the road to make the precise name… I don’t suppose we’re arrange for achievement by not having full-time stewards,” Brown mentioned on the Autosport Enterprise Trade: London.

“So far as paying for the stewards, it will in all probability be unpopular amongst my fellow groups. I am completely satisfied if McLaren and all of the racing groups contribute. It is so vital for the game. It will possibly’t be that costly if everyone contributes. It isn’t going to interrupt the financial institution.”

Brown additionally felt stewards must be given the scope to indicate extra leniency as they interpret the racing guidelines, which got here underneath intense scrutiny in 2024 as Verstappen and Lando Norris battled in Austin and Mexico.

“The people are wonderful however the rulebook is just too restrictive,” he added. “I’d like us to take a step again, loosen it up. Have full-time stewards who could make extra of a subjective determination of whether or not that was proper or incorrect.”