287 replies to this topic

[SophieB]

​@fia

It is with regret that we announce that Johnny Herbert will no longer fulfil the position of F1 driver steward for the FIA

 

#FIA

[Collombin]

Ten pages of bile and venom due for delivery here soon. Please wear high wellies when entering this thread.

[Muppetmad]

"...his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible"

 

Spot on. This is the right decision for all involved.

[Stoffel]

"His tasks are now taken over by Peta, 23 from Essex"

Edited by Stoffel, 29 January 2025 - 10:37.

[Red5ive]

What media punditry ? He got dropped by Sky years ago. ?

[Alexis*27]

Fair enough.

 

I don't for a second think he's biased, it's just that the stewards probably shouldn't be airing the opinions they all hold in their heads.

Same as Ralf Schumacher should be not be permitted as a steward.

[IrvTheSwerve]

What media punditry ? He got dropped by Sky years ago. ?

I was wondering the same. Sure, he’s given interviews, but I don’t think he does any punditry any longer?

[IrvTheSwerve]

Ten pages of bile and venom due for delivery here soon. Please wear high wellies when entering this thread.

I honestly don’t get the vitriol towards Johnny. Seems like a top bloke, doesn’t take things too seriously and his punditry work wasn’t that bad. A good Grand Prix driver who generally stayed out of any shenanigans. 

 

Is it just the whole perceived ‘British bias’ (there I said it) thing?

Edited by IrvTheSwerve, 29 January 2025 - 10:41.

[Sebastien007]

Fernando Alonso must be happy now.

[1player]

Ten pages of bile and venom due for delivery here soon. Please wear high wellies when entering this thread.

Don't forget your complimentary "No more British bias" t-shirt

[lio007]

Finally a sensible move by MBS.

[SophieB]

@NobleF1

The decision comes with Herbert being widely used by gambling sites as an F1 pundit, with him occasionally commenting on matters relating to his steward’s role.

[pacificquay]

The punditry role way more lucrative given the FIA’s refusal to properly remunerate stewards

[KWSN - DSM]

Way overdue.

[Risil]

@NobleF1

The decision comes with Herbert being widely used by gambling sites as an F1 pundit, with him occasionally commenting on matters relating to his steward’s role.

 

Oh my god is there this shadowy world of F1 punditry that runs out of the vice economy

 

If so I would've hoped he'd have a more Runyonesque nickname, Johnny Wheels or some such.

[UncleSam]

I honestly don’t get the vitriol towards Johnny. Seems like a top bloke, doesn’t take things too seriously and his punditry work wasn’t that bad. A good Grand Prix driver who generally stayed out of any shenanigans.

Is it just the whole perceived ‘British bias’ (there I said it) thing?

Don't think so. He writes quite outspoken pieces for a betting site which apparantly FIA think is not compatible with neutral stewarding

Edited by UncleSam, 29 January 2025 - 10:53.

[Ruusperi]

All your misdeeds are forgotten, Ben Sulayem, our savior. We love you now!  

[PrinceBira]

Many have pointed out that Stewards should refrain from such visible media positions.

Good that the FIA acknowledged this.

Same applies to other Stewards with ‘side’ (or ‘main’) gigs.

[Cliff]

Finally.

[DevilDare]

Finally, an end to the British bias!

[IrvTheSwerve]

Don't think so. He writes quite outspoken pieces for a betting site which apparantly FIA think is not compatible with neutral stewarding

 

Which is fair enough if that's the case, but people have been calling for his head for a long time for some reason (as can be seen in this thread).

Edited by IrvTheSwerve, 29 January 2025 - 10:56.

[Little Leaf]

Correct decision IMO. Handing out penalties on a Sunday and then explaining it all on a betting website on a Monday doesn’t seem right to me.

[Disgrace]

Stewards sponsored by betting companies? Talk about moral hazard. Good riddance.

[PayasYouRace]

@NobleF1
The decision comes with Herbert being widely used by gambling sites as an F1 pundit, with him occasionally commenting on matters relating to his steward’s role.

I was completely unaware of this. I thought he was just being interviewed on TV at the weekends he was a steward.

[SophieB]

I was completely unaware of this. I thought he was just being interviewed on TV at the weekends he was a steward.

Yeah, it was pretty much news to me too.

[Disgrace]

What media punditry ? He got dropped by Sky years ago. ?

 

The FIA statement is extremely kind to Herbert, dressing his conflict of interest and reputational risk exposure to the FIA as "media punditry". This speaks of his poor judgement that he thought this was acceptable.

[NateF]

Yeah, it was pretty much news to me too.

Was this all last year too? Slow on the FIA part to just part ways with him now.

[Ste678]

Finally. First time he was notably quoted by Coin Poker was at the Norris\Verstappen (Austria) incident in July.

So it took the FIA only half a year to sort out this issue and half a dozen? times he acted as a steward afterwards. Awesome

Edited by Ste678, 29 January 2025 - 11:29.

[TroyMclure]

I am Waiting for the announcement of Jos Verstappen as a replacement 

[jonpollak]

So you’re saying Ray Winstone has no chance of a role as a steward?

Blimey at’s orrible …innit.
Jp

[jonklug]

The logical decision. Can't throw out penalties and then do punditry the next day.

[krea]

Herbert was clearly that guy with a real British bias, so this is the right decision. 

[Diablobb81]

Finally

[Bendo]

Given the FIA pay then a pittance to cover their expenses, what do they expect.

Either pay them so they don't need to make money elsewhere, or expect them all to be on the take somewhere. It isn't rocket science.

[cyclist]

The only correct decision. The combination of being very critical in the media as a pundit, especially for a commercial sponsor, can not be sensibly combined with a position as impartial referee to an international sport.

[Bendo]

The FIA statement is extremely kind to Herbert, dressing his conflict of interest and reputational risk exposure to the FIA as "media punditry". This speaks of his poor judgement that he thought this was acceptable.

No, it speaks of the poor way the FIA is run that they expect people to perform a role for next to no reward but take issue that people need to put food on the table.

[cyclist]

Given the FIA pay then a pittance to cover their expenses, what do they expect.

Either pay them so they don't need to make money elsewhere, or expect them all to be on the take somewhere. It isn't rocket science.

If F1 wants better stewards, perhaps the FIA and F1 should agree on paid positions indeed. I understand that the FIA can not pay for these themselves, perhaps because they are a not for profit organisation, but surely F1 has money to spend on an issue that is crucial to the sport.

[krea]

No, it speaks of the poor way the FIA is run that they expect people to perform a role for next to no reward but take issue that people need to put food on the table.

 

No one forced Herbert to accept that position. 

[NateF]

If F1 wants better stewards, perhaps the FIA and F1 should agree on paid positions indeed. I understand that the FIA can not pay for these themselves, perhaps because they are a not for profit organisation, but surely F1 has money to spend on an issue that is crucial to the sport.

Sorry why does it’s not for profit status matter with regards to pay? I actually don’t think pay is the issue here for stewards like Herbert (this is an easy yes or no for them).

Never understood why like the scrutineering or any other dept that has direct track side dealing does not have a professional stewards/referee dept.

[Clatter]

The FIA statement is extremely kind to Herbert, dressing his conflict of interest and reputational risk exposure to the FIA as "media punditry". This speaks of his poor judgement that he thought this was acceptable.

What does it say about the FIA who hired him, knowing full well he was a pundit?

[FirstnameLastname]

*Damon limbers up*

[JBJ]

Good, one by one
This is the Way

[MKSixer]

This would have been the perfect time to follow up with:

 

"In light of this as well as the potential for this and similar conflicts of interest in the future, the FIA is now in the process of developing a program to hire full-time, professional stewards who will be permanent and travel with the FIA contingent. They will be completely independent from the race director and can't have had any direct or indirect F1 team associations for 5 years. More to follow."

[thefinalapex]

This would have been the perfect time to follow up with:

 

"In light of this as well as the potential for this and similar conflicts of interest in the future, the FIA is now in the process of developing a program to hire full-time, professional stewards who will be permanent and travel with the FIA contingent. They will be completely independent from the race director and can't have had any direct or indirect F1 team associations for 5 years. More to follow."

 

That would be to much common sense for the FIA

[Sterzo]

In principle I think it's the right decision, not because of anything wrong with Herbert's actions as a steward, but because any defence or explanation of the steward's decisions should come via the senior steward, not from one individual. That's why the "pundit" role is incompatible.

 

I wonder two things. (1) Are any other ex-drivers in a similar position? and (2) did this decision come from Ben Sulayem as part of his "sack a man a day" strategy?

[FLB]

What does it say about the FIA who hired him, knowing full well he was a pundit?

Different administration then.

[MinardiM02]

Sensible decision. You cannot be a steward and an anti-Max activist at the same time. 

[DJH63]

Was this all last year too? Slow on the FIA part to just part ways with him now.

Nah, it’s smart PR. Herbert was a dead man walking the second he came out with “Norris and Brown agreed that the penalty was right”, but parting ways immediately afterwards would be a much bigger storm than quietly doing it during the off-season. 

[Alex79]

"You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done"

[PrinceBira]

I’m surprised people are surprised. Herbert was quoted a lot last season on these boards and surely a few times the original source (that gambling website) has been referred.

Nevertheless, does it matter if you are a pundit via a gambling website that wants some quotes or another outlet? It doesn’t matter, Stewards shouldn’t have recurring presence via any media outlet whilst they are Stewards.

You’d hope the FIA has drafted a proper code of conduct.