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

Purple Bull crew boss Christian Horner says Formulation 1’s governing physique the FIA was proper to half methods with steward Johnny Herbert.

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

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

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

Purple Bull chief Horner, whose driver Max Verstappen was recurrently at odds with Herbert final yr, mentioned the 60-year-old’s elimination was the right determination, although refuting options Verstappen had something to do with the matter.

“Effectively, firstly, completely nothing to do with Max, however completely the proper determination,” Horner advised Sky Sports activities F1 on the Autosport Awards in London. “You can’t have stewards working within the media. You do not have it within the Premiership. You haven’t any 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 speak 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. “Once I do communicate to folks on a Monday or Tuesday that’s exterior my stewarding tasks.”

Herbert’s dismissal for taking up punditry gigs additional highlighted a need by many within the sport for FIA stewards to develop into 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 every thing is on the road to make the proper name… I don’t assume we’re arrange for achievement by not having full-time stewards,” Brown mentioned on the Autosport Enterprise Alternate: London.

“So far as paying for the stewards, this can in all probability be unpopular amongst my fellow groups. I am pleased if McLaren and all of the racing groups contribute. It is so essential for the game. It might’t be that costly if everyone contributes. It is not going to interrupt the financial institution.”

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

“The people are nice 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 mistaken.”