The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has decided to dispense with Johnny Herbert as Commissioner of Formula 1, claiming the incompatibility of his position with his role as a commentator in the media. The decision, announced on Wednesday, ends a stage marked by the controversy around its impartiality in sanctions imposed on the big prizes.
Herbert, 60, had expressed his intention to continue in his role during the 2025 season, with a confirmed presence in the Australian Grand Prix. However, the FIA chose to separate it, arguing in a statement that “after discussing it, it was agreed that its functions as a commissioner of the FIA and commentator of the media are incompatible.”
The FIA statement: Herbert
“We regret to announce today that Johnny Herbert will no longer occupy the position of F1 Papiloto de la FIA. Johnny is very respected and contributed an experience and invaluable knowledge in his function. However, after discussing it, it was agreed to mutually that its functions as a commissioner of the FIA and those of media expert were incompatible. We thank you for your service and wish you the best in your future projects, ”announced the chairman Mohammed Ahmed Ben Sulayem Since 2021.
For his part, Herbert responded with another Publicdo statement through his social networks. In it He thanked the opportunity that gave him the highest regulatory body of the automobile competitions, and stressed that the career commissioner work is difficult because of the decisions to be made. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a delegate pilot of the FIA and I have really enjoyed the role in which I have participated over the years. It is a difficult job and you have to make decisions, ”he said.
“As commissioners, we have treated and we will continue treating both the pilots and the team staff with the greatest respect and we will be impartial at all times during all weekends of the F1 Grand Prix. Finally, I am very grateful to the president and all in the FIA for the opportunities that have given me, ”he culminated.
A 2024 with controversial decisions
During the last season, Herbert was involved in several controversial decisions, particularly in the sanctions against Max Verstappen in Austria and Mexicowhich caused criticism of the Red Bull team and the pilot’s father, Jos Verstappen. “I don’t think a curator should speak with the press at all,” he told Viaplay, in reference to Herbert’s double facet.
Doubts about their impartiality came from afar. Your comments on incidents between Verstappen and Lando Norrisor their inclination towards British pilots as George Russell and Lewis HamiltonThey fed the perception that their judgment was not entirely neutral. His recent forecast that Aston Martin would be the disappointment of the year and his desire to see Hamilton win an eighth title were the drop that filled the glass for the FIA.
Herbert, a resilient pilot
Johnny Herbert is not only known for his Commissioner and commentator’s facet. His career as a pilot was marked by resilience. After suffering a serious accident in Formula 3000 (F3) in 1988 that almost cost him leg mobility, he managed to debut in the F1 with Benetton And scoring in that first Grand Prix, that of Brazil. However, his irregularities and his bad grades caused the team to dispense with him. After a return to F3, he returned to the queen category of the hand of Tyrrell Racing.
After rolling for Lotus A short time later returned to Bennetton at the end of 1994year in which Michael Schumacher He got the first of his seven titles. Herbert continued in the team as Kaiser’s partner in 1995. That year he rose to the top of the podium in the Great Britain Grand Prix, in the Silverstone circuit; And in the Italy Grand Prix, in Monza. The World Cup ended in the fourth position of the pilot championship while Schumacher took with his second title.
In 1996 Benetton did not have him to continue on the team and signed for Saubersharing shields with another German pilot, Heinz-Harald Frentzen. The British remained two seasons in the team, and in 1999 He won his third and last victory in Formula 1 by the hand of Stewart Grand Prixthe team that founded the Tricampeón of F1 Jackie Stewart and his son Paul Stewart in 1997. He continued one more tempro in the team that changed its name, Jaguar Racingand that was his last season.
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