Johnny Herbert has insisted he’s entitled to his opinions about current Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen in response to criticism from the Dutchman's father, Jos.
The two former F1 drivers fell out after Herbert initially noted that the time penalties imposed on the Red Bull driver on the Mexican Grand Prix “wouldn't stop [him] to push Lando Norris off the track in the longer term.”
Jos was furious that Herbert, who served as FIA race steward on the Mexican Grand Prix, expressed his views publicly after the penalties were imposed, insisting that “a steward should not talk to the press at all and just do his job all the time” “.
The bitterness continued on the Brazilian Grand Prix when Max Verstappen, who was also heavily criticized by Sky F1's Damon Hill for his maneuvers on Norris, stated: “I have the wrong passport for this paddock.”
However, Herbert – who was again an FIA race steward in Brazil last weekend – insisted he was not biased.
In harsh words directed at Jos, he questioned his position on being critical of Red Bull's actions after repeatedly speaking out against his son's team this yr.
“I'm Johnny Herbert, the steward and professional on the race weekend, and Johnny Herbert, the expert in other situations who speaks his mind,” Herbert said SafestBettingSites.co.uk.
“When I'm a steward, I don't express any opinions.
Photo: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
“Everyone has their very own opinion. [Sky Sports F1’s] Martin Brundle has his say. Why can't I if I'm not on the racetrack? The race track has been my world for 50 years. If I don't completely agree with what I see on the racetrack, I’ll say so. It's not only Max. I’ll criticize anyone if I feel it’s warranted.
“I understand it from Jos' standpoint because he’s his son. Is there any bias? No, after all not. I wasn't the just one who thought Max was excessive in Mexico. Lando Norris i [McLaren boss] Zak Brown thought so too.
“When I talk over with people on Monday or Tuesday, which is just not my responsibility as a steward.
“Jos has always been very open about what is happening at Red Bull. Is this supposed to be his position? It's all very similar. If you have an opinion and you want to express it, you can do so.”
Meanwhile, Herbert says that Norris, who’s 62 points behind Verstappen within the Drivers' Championship and has only 86 points available within the last three races, will draw conclusions from his fight for the title.
“McLaren and Lando lost seven points in Hungary because they allowed Piastri to win and these are things they must remember next season,” added the three-time F1 race winner.
Will they lose the championship this yr? No, because they were all the time catching up. They could have scored more points, but that's racing. Max had a transparent lead, but didn’t win after June.
“McLaren will learn lessons for next yr and can have a stronger attitude. Lando will enter 2025 knowing that he can defeat Max.
