Last Updated on November 6 2024, 1:17 pm
At times the rough and tough world of F1 takes its toll on those involved. Commonly referred to as the Piranha club, the dog eat dogs nature of the business has changed little in 75 years.
Most seasons see the usual rows bubbling up as one competitor tries to get one over on another, whether it be team on team or driver on driver, and this year has been no different.
Max Verstappen cruised into the 2024 championship season on the back of an historic campaign where multiple records were tumbling from week to week and following two wins in the first two races this year, it seemed for all the world as the Red Bull/Max bandwagon would roll on to even greater heights.
Verstappen slump and media scrutiny
Seven wins in the first ten races set Verstappen up for what was to become the leanest spells in terms of wins for the Dutchman since an eleven race drought back in 2020. As the pressure mounted, the media scrutiny of Verstappen and Red Bull increased with a narrative beginning to form which saw the world champion as the villain of the peace.
A run in with the FIA in Singapore saw Max refuse to properly answer questions at an approved press event. His punishment of community service from the stewards for using ‘bad language’ was seen by many as making an example out a driver. The FIA gave credence to this notion when Charles Leclerc was given a mere slap on the wrist for using the identical expletive in Mexico City.
Matters came to a head during the first of the two triple head weekends which would form the end of season run in. As Verstappen and Norris battled in Austin, Texas the Dutch driver was heavily criticised for his driving standards.
Whilst Norris received a five second penalty at COTA, next time out is was Max who would be slapped with two ten second penalties. And despite being vilified in the British media for preventing a Norris win, most of Verstappen’s fellow races have since admitted in his situation they’d do the same.
Norris “shameful” social media posting is bizarre
F1 steward calls Verstappen mindset “horrible”
Ex-F1 racer and former F1 presenter Johnny Herbert was the driver steward in Mexico and he came under fire for what many considered draconian penalties issued to Max. Since losing his role with Sky F1, Herbert has been pursuing media opportunities of his own on the race weekends when he is not officiating.
In an unprecedented act of self justification by an F1 steward, Herbert decided to defend his decisions and thugs of his fellow stewards to assembled media in Mexico. Yet his poor communication skills saw him describe the world champions state of mind as “horrible” created a backlash from Verstappen senior.
“I am such a big fan of Verstappen and it frustrates me massively when he drives the way he did in Mexico,” said the Briton, adding: “When Verstappen goes into this horrible of trying to gain an advantage by taking a fellow driver off the race track, that’s where Verstappen needs to know he doesn’t have to do that.”
Jos was quick to react and hit back at the Herbert interview telling Dutch media: “I think a steward shouldn’t talk to the press at all and just deliver work all the time. And that’s certainly not the case now.”
Max mocks lack of British media
As is the want of the current crop of Sky presenters, Herbert has reacted with a level of self-justification as did David Croft who felt it necessary to react to a generic accusation against the British media.
“I have a quick question,” Max joked at the post race press conference in Brazil. “I mean, I appreciate all of you being here, but I don’t see any British press. Do they have to run to the airport, or they don’t know where the press conference is?”
Having heard of the Verstappen mockery, Sky F1 senior commentator took to X to defend himself. “Sometimes there’s more to a story than just a sound bite or a chance to attack people for perception of British bias,” he wrote having left the circuit to travel back to the UK.
Herbert too has now hit back at Jos Verstappen’s criticism of his behaviour. “I am Johnny Herbert the steward and the professional during a race weekend and Johnny Herbert a pundit at other times, who expresses what he thinks,” he told SafestBettingSites.co.uk.
Tortured explanation
“When I am a steward, I do not express any opinions. “Everyone has an opinion. Martin Brundle has an opinion. Why can’t I when I am not at the race track? The race track has been my world for 50 years. If I don’t quite agree with what I see on the race track I will say so. It is not just Max. I’ll criticise anyone if I feel it is warranted,” said Herbert.
“I understand it from Jos’s point of view because it is his son. Is there any bias? No, of course not. I wasn’t the only one to think that Max was over the top in Mexico. Lando Norris and Brown thought so too.”
Herbert fails to reference several drivers who grudgingly admitted in Max’s position, they would have done the same thing. Citing the victim of Max’s tough driving and his boss, is hardly a justification at all.
“When I do speak to people on a Monday or Tuesday that is outside my stewarding responsibilities. Jos has always been very outspoken about what is happening at Red Bull. Is that his position to be? It is all very similar. If you have an opinion and you want to make it, then you can.”
Stewards private discussions revealed
Of course suggesting that being a steward and simultaneously a media pundit are compatible hats to wear is a nonsense. Not only that but Herbert’s initial rebuttal had revealed how the stewarding decisions were agreed, which is inside information a regular media professional would not own.
In the next sentence Herbert describes Max’s driving mindset as “horrible”, which of course is a subjective and in fact unknowable unless you are Max Verstappen. There’s an old saying which says, “better to remain silent and be assumed a fool, than open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”
With Verstappen now set for his fourth consecutive F1 drivers’ title and a three week break before Las Vegas, the storm in a tea cup will invariably fade. Though it raises the question as to whether those so thin skinned should be working in the pressure cooker that is F1 land.
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Herbert was a failure ad a F1 driver, and now he gives opinions on world champions. He should stay in Britain and run a fish and chips shop.
Herbert and the rest of Sky sports presenters bar perhaps Brundle ,are unprofessional and
biased , an absolute disgrace to journalism
Brundle used to be neutral until the Sky bosses gave him a lecture on the facts of life a couple of years ago and now he’s become anti Max just like the rest of the presenters.
Well you can certainly tell on here who are the supporters of Max V. Rightly so he got his comeuppance for moving others off track and I am pleased about that. He definitely deserved to get those points and the more he does it,the more points he should get. Max is a winner BUT he has a winning car. I appreciate he is a good driver but I’m sure there are a few others in the pack, that if having that car, could win a championship! As for his father… Does he own Red Bull? Im sorry but can’t stand the man
Both him and his son come across as very ignorant of others.