Last Updated on February 1 2025, 1:23 pm

In recent times the doors to the exclusive suites inside th ePlace de Concorde in Paris has been revolving at a much quicker rate than usual. The FIA under the presidency of Mohammed Ben Sulayem has suffered an earthquake when compared to the sedentary nature of the organisation under the previous incumbent Jean Todt.

In just three short years F1 has dismissed three race directors and a number of other senior personal at F1’s regulatory body. In just the last 12 months sporting director Tim Nielsen, technical director Tim Goss, chief executive officer Natalie Robyn, along with the head of commission for women Deborah Mayer, secretary general of mobility Jacob Bangsgaard and director of communications Luke Skipper – have all left the FIA.

Yet the grace and favour system of appointing F1 race stewards remains. These individuals are appointed from the 200m plus globally affiliated national; association and becoming an F1 steward is a privilege for the chosen few.

 

 

 

F1 stewarding professionalism raises its head

The stewarding room was shaken up back in 2010, when driver stewards were added to the panel of adjudicators. These were top level participants in motorsport who could offer a drivers’ opinion on tricky on track decisions to the others in the room who may never have raced even a go-kart.

Johnny Herbert has been a driver steward for much of that time frame, but was released earlier this week by the FIA under the auspices of a conflict of interest. The ex-F1 driver and Sky pundit picked a fight with the Verstappen’s as the 2024 season drew to a close and now the chickens have come home to roost for the 60 year old veteran race.

Herbert had given his opinion on Verstappen’s aggressive racing style at the USGP, when in fact it was Lando Norris who was penalised following their on track battle which continued for several laps. Norris was forced off the circuit – but legally – given Verstappen had reached the apex of the turn first and according to the stewarding guidelines had earned the “right” to the turn over Lando, it was the British driver who was punished b y the stewards.

Next time out in Mexico City, Herbert was slated as the driver steward for the weekend. Jos Vertsappen called for him to be removed from the panel of referees given his comments which he described as biased against his son.

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Herbert justifies stewarding decision as a pundit

Herbert duly continued in his stewarding role and was part of the group who handed Max twenty seconds of time penalties during the race. Even the Sky pundits keen for Norris to win were cautious with their conclusions, giving the impression the totality of Max’s punishment was over the top.

Again Jos called out the stewarding as biased and Herbert duly obliged in expelling their position. The problem for Johnny was he confused his role as a pundit, with that of a steward making pejorative statements about the intent of a racing driver.

Justifying the stewards decision to hit Verstappen with twenty seconds of penalties which a paddock consensus appeared to agree was a touch harsh, Herbert decided to explain the stewards decisions to Action Network in an interview.

“It’s the guidelines we followed, the teams agreed with our decisions,” claimed Herbert when even a number of drivers were concerned at the heavy handed actions of the stewards. “The right decision was made, the 20-second penalty for Max Verstappen was not harsh.

Huge Russell smash

 

 

 

Herbert calls Verstappen mindset “horrible”

“Was Verstappen’s driving style on the edge or over the top? Yes, it was. Verstappen’s driving style was harsh, especially when he’s taking a fellow driver off the track. It’s an absolute no-no from me, current drivers, former drivers and stewards.”

Herbert went on to blow smoke up the derrier of the world champion claiming to be a fan of his whilst at the same time expressing judgemental attitude towards his supposed mindset. Verstappen who is the ultimate progressional and understands the rules to the nth degree.

School Master Johnny then offered his advice to Max: “He doesn’t need to do it, he’s so good in the cockpit and at this point in the Championship, he just needs to stay out of trouble and drive as well as possible.

“When Verstappen goes into this horrible mindset of trying to gain an advantage by taking a fellow driver off the race track so Ferrari can get the one-two, that where Verstappen needs to know he doesn’t have to do that. Just win in the cleanest possible way you can.”

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FIA call conflict of interest

Herbert concluded there was no dissent amongst the stewards who were all in agreement with the twenty seconds punishment. “Always remember, there are four stewards who make these decisions,” he concluded somewhat in patronising fashion.

However, the FIA believed the Verstappen’s were correct in their assessment of Herberts public comments which were again criticised by Jos following Herbert’s self justifying explanation – as a pundit remember! “A steward shouldn’t talk to the press at all,” he quipped.

Herbert felt the need to come back at the ex-F1 driver, stating the following weekend in rather grand fashion. “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 said. “When I do speak to people on a Monday or Tuesday that is outside my stewarding responsibilities.”

This week the FIA gave their view on the matter, where Herbert clearly in the same breath spoke of his stewarding decisions as well as general F1 punditry matters of opinion. “Johnny is widely respected and brought invaluable experience and expertise to his role,” the FIA communicated in a statement. “However, after discussion, it was mutually agreed that his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible.”

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Horner denies Max involvement

Now Red Bull chief Christian Horner has offered his two penneth on the matter stating the FIA’s removal of the 60 year old driver steward was the right decision. “Well, firstly, absolutely nothing to do with Max, but absolutely the right decision,” Horner told Sky Sports F1 at the Autosport Awards in London. “You cannot have stewards working in the media. You don’t have it in the Premiership. You don’t have any other form of professional sport. It’s totally inappropriate.

“You’re either on the sporting regulatory side or you’re on the media side. You can’t have a foot in both camps,” concluded Verstappen’s boss. The saga opened up the topic of professional stewarding once again rather than the current grace and favour scenario used to select these crucially important individuals. 

McLaren’s Zak Brown is a keen advocate of a full time panel of paid stewards. “To have part-time, unpaid stewards in a multi-billion-dollar sport where everything is on the line to make the right call… I don’t think we are set up for success by not having full-time stewards,” Brown stated at the Autosport Business Exchange: London.

“As far as paying for the stewards, this will probably be unpopular amongst my fellow teams. I’m happy if McLaren and all the racing teams contribute. It’s so important for the sport. It can’t be that expensive if everybody contributes. It’s not going to break the bank.”

“DIVORCE” – Wolff surprised at Hamilton comment

 

 

 

Ben Sulayem calls for ‘professional stewards’

Perviously FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem addressed the issue of full time stewards. “So I do feel, again a personal view, not one of on behalf of the drivers, but personal view, I do think we’re at a point now in this sport that we do need a full-time professional steward where they earn a real salary.”

Of course on the topic of who pays for it, Ben Sulayem pleads poverty on behalf of the FIA. “It’s very nice talk,” he told Autosport about the calls for a change. “But when they say professional, and they want professional, they don’t want to pay for it. That is so obvious.”

“That means F1, ie the teams, should pay for it. So I think if that’s what we’ve bought, and we want to change it, then I think we need to pay for it.”

With Zak Brown accepting Ben Sulayem’s proposals, the ball is firmly is now firmly in the court of the teams and FOM.

“I couldn’t stay” – as they abandon Max Verstappen

 

 

 

Ferrari modify Hamilton’s car for next test

The headlines during this winter season in the world of Formula One have all been Lewis Hamilton related. The SHOCK move for the save times world champion was announced around this time last season as Hamilton looked to extend his F1 career beyond the one year contract extension Mercedes finally offered the British driver.

Whether Fred Vaster believed this to be a priority is unclear, given Hamilton leveraged his relationship with Ferrari group president John Elkann who the Italian media report brokered the deal. In fact Vasseur had said just weeks earlier at the Ferrari festive celebration he would be happy to extend the contracts of both his current drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Yet the power of the Hamilton brand and Elkann’s thirst for F1 success trumped Ferrari’s team principal’s views over the team’s driver lineup. Now the pressure is on the British driver, the first to drive for Ferrari since Nigel Mansell in the 1990’s, to recover from his worst season in the sport last year and bring the challenge to his new team mate Charles Leclerc… READ MORE