MAX VERSTAPPEN WAS 'DISRESPECTFUL' ON F1 PODIUM IN SAUDI ARABIA, SAYS JOHNNY HERBERT

Verstappen was given a five-second penalty in Jeddah and was visibly annoyed after finishing second

Verstappen was ‘disrespectful’ on F1 podium in Saudi, says Herbert

Johnny Herbert believes Max Verstappen was “unprofessional and disrespectful” on the Saudi Arabian GP podium after finishing second to Oscar Piastri on Sunday.

Former F1 race winner Herbert added that Verstappen should have been given a 10-second penalty for the incident at turn one on lap one with Piastri, instead of a five-second penalty.

Pole-sitter Verstappen came out second best with McLaren’s Piastri in Jeddah and was clearly annoyed by the penalty given to him, refusing to directly answer a question on the topic from David Coulthard on the grid after the race.

In the customary podium celebrations afterwards, Verstappen did not spray champagne in the usual manner with Piastri and third-placed driver Leclerc – something Herbert picked up on.

"I saw Max Verstappen drink the champagne on the podium and didn't really celebrate [with] Oscar or Charles – it comes across as unprofessional and disrespectful, from a four-time world champion,” Herbert said.

“You have to be gracious in defeat sometimes. I don't know how people will argue that it was an unfair penalty.

“The people arguing against it have probably never been in a race car, and definitely not in an F1 car, so they have zero understanding. I'll include Christian Horner in this, too.

“I know he's the team principal and he's trying to do what's best for Red Bull, but sometimes you have to just admit you're wrong and give the place back. Most drivers are very aware of when they should give the place back."

Red Bull boss Horner argued after the race, via still images from Verstappen’s onboard camera, that his driver was “ahead at the apex” and should not have been penalised.

Verstappen finished second to Oscar Piastri in Jeddah
Getty Images

"It was a definite penalty, because when you go into any corner, especially a tight one like that, you've got to be on the apex near the curb,” Herbert added, in partnership with Beste Online Casino Nederland. “The apex of the turn was not where Verstappen was, who was two metres out.

"Horner then came up with the picture of evidence to show who was in front in turn one, which was a load of baloney, but to me, it was passing the buck to the FIA and the stewards.

“It's wrong, it shouldn't be like that. Red Bull had a chance to give the place back but they chose not to.”

Red Bull, ultimately, decided not to officially appeal the penalty afterwards.

Herbert was dropped as an F1 race steward in January after being criticised by Verstappen’s dad, Jos, for commenting on the Dutchman’s driving style as a media pundit, alongside being an official.

Herbert was critical of Verstappen’s driving style in Mexico last year, when the former British driver was part of the stewarding panel who dished out a 20-second penalty to the Red Bull driver. This incident prompted Jos to rebuke: “I think a steward shouldn’t talk to the press at all.”

Herbert, 60, was then dropped by the FIA prior to the 2025 season due to the “incompatibility” of his dual role.

The next race of the 2025 season is the Miami Grand Prix (2-4 May).

- Kieran Jackson

FIA BOSS REVEALS 'NEW BLOOD' FOR 2025 F1 SEASON AFTER SHOCK RACE DIRECTOR EXIT

Niels Wiitch was removed from his role as F1 race director in the final weeks of last season

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed there will be more than one F1 race director this season.

Former F1 race director Niels Wittich was removed from his role towards the end of last season in a surprising move by the sport’s governing body.

Wittich’s replacement in the hot seat has not been confirmed but – following Johnny Herbert’s departure as a driver steward last month – Ben Sulayem has revealed that “new blood” will feature in FIA race control from the first race in Australia on 16 March.

Asked about who will be the next F1 race director, Ben Sulayem replied at a press conference in Spain: “Who and how many is a question we will know soon, in the next few days.

“But for sure there will be new blood and there will be more than one [race director]. That’s for sure.

“There have been people learning, there have been people working behind all the time. You can’t just throw somebody into this big challenge.”

McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated last month that his team would be willing to contribute towards paying for full-time FIA officials, yet Ben Sulayem insists that the 10 teams overall do not want to help fund a stewarding crew.

“The teams can complain, drivers can complain, but then they don’t want to pay for it,” Ben Sulayem added.

“I’m being very, very honest and straight with you, this takes a lot of investment. It has taken us more than two and a half years to get to what we are achieving now. Do we have the results? We will know the results when the season starts.

‘It is very important. What if the race director decides not to go or if he gets sick? It’s the same as the FIA. If something happens to me tomorrow, the FIA will continue to function without me, so this has to be a system. It’s not about individuals.

“There are a lot of mistakes and then you blame the FIA. It’s easy to blame the FIA. Why can’t you be productive in your criticism and say: ‘How can we find a solution?’

‘But where is the solution? The solution is in training, the solution is to bring people in.”

Wittich first served as joint F1 race director – the person in charge of enforcing FIA rules, safety cars and parc ferme regulations – with Eduardo Freitas in 2022, following the exit of Michael Masi after the controversial end to the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi.

Prior to Masi, Charlie Whiting held the position of F1 race director and was a highly respected figure for two decades from 1997-2019, before his sad passing prior to the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.

- Kieran Jackson

FIA DROPS JOHNNY HERBERT AS F1 STEWARD DUE TO 'INCOMPATIBLE' MEDIA ROLE

Johnny Herbert has left his role as one of the Formula 1 driver stewards after the FIA concluded his work as a media analyst was “incompatible” with the role.

Herbert, who raced in F1 between 1989 and 2000, intimated that he would be continuing in his position just last week, giving his thoughts on the opening round in Australia – which he believed he would be stewarding – to Casinoutanspelpaus.io.

But the sport’s governing body has confirmed Herbert, who also previously provided analysis for Sky Sports F1 until 2023, will not maintain the role, which he has held since 2010.

A statement from the FIA read: “It is with regret that we announce today that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA.

“Johnny is widely respected and brought invaluable experience and expertise to his role. However, after discussion, it was mutually agreed that his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible.

“We thank him for his service and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Public Verstappen criticism cast doubt on Herbert’s authority

Herbert’s outspoken nature had previously put his role as a steward under scrutiny, with questions raised about impartiality.

After the Mexico City Grand Prix, Herbert criticised the driving ethics of Max Verstappen after the World Champion received two 10-second time penalties for two incidents with Lando Norris.

Max’s father Josh took offence to Herbert’s remarks, telling Dutch outlet De Telegraaf: “The FIA should take a good look at the staffing of the stewards, who they put there and whether there is no appearance of a conflict of interest.

“From former drivers, for example, who have more sympathy for certain drivers or [teams].”

Herbert rebuffed such criticism, saying: “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,” Herbert told SafestBettingSites.co.uk

“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.

“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 Zak Brown thought so too.

“When I do speak to people on a Monday or Tuesday that is outside my stewarding responsibilities.”

- Jack Oliver Smith

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