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Former FIA steward Johnny Herbert has alleged that his unexpected dismissal from Formula 1’s governing body last month was the result of external lobbying directed at President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Herbert has pointed to outside “chitter-chatter” rather than internal FIA concerns as the catalyst for his exit, which officially came due to his dual roles as steward and media pundit being deemed “incompatible.”
However, Herbert’s dismissal came over a month after he had served as a steward at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen received two 10-second penalties for incidents involving McLaren’s Lando Norris.
This decision sparked criticism and accusations of a bias from Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, who suggested that “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”.
Lobbying Claims Surface
Speaking recently to gambling website CasinoApps.com, Herbert alleged that lobbying had taken place, suggesting that the external pressure, possibly linked to the Verstappens, swayed Ben Sulayem.
“Certain people spoke to Mohammed Ben Sulayem about sacking me. It didn’t come from within the FIA initially,” he claimed. “It was all to do with chitter-chatter to the FIA that made them change their point of view.”
“Everything I’d done all year long in 2024 had been discussed and accepted. Two days before I was eventually given the sack over the phone, I’d been told all was good for 2025. Then it wasn’t.
“I understand how everything came about. But I am not going to point the finger.
“But as I said, there were certain people who did actually speak with the president and that’s why the president finally made that decision to get rid of me.”
Bias Allegations Rebuked
Herbert also addressed the accusations of British bias leveled against him, particularly by Jos Verstappen.
“The Verstappens keep intimating there’s a bias,” he explained. “And I keep reading about the supposed bias. I read that and then wonder, ‘so I can’t support a British driver because I’m British?’
“I can’t support Lewis or George or Lando? It’s ridiculous. But coming the other way is fine apparently as was the case in what happened with me.
“If you’re a Dutchman, you can sort of have a go at the Brits and say the Brits have got no real morals for how they are as race fans. It’s supposed to go both ways isn’t it.
“I’m absolutely fine with [parting ways with the FIA]. It was upsetting at the time because I enjoyed it, and I felt that I was doing the best job and with no bias towards anybody.”
FIA’s Heavy Hand
Herbert also weighed in on the FIA’s evolving culture, citing the exclusion earlier this week of British figures Robert Reid and David Richards from a World Motor Sport Council meeting for refusing to sign NDAs.
“The FIA are more controlling than before and now have a heavy-handed way of dealing with things,” said the three-time Grand Prix driver.
“There does seem to be a more controlling factor coming into play.
“Dave Richards was one of those who refused to sign an NDA and therefore wasn’t allowed into the room for the World Motor Sport Council meeting earlier this week.
“Dave’s been around the world for many a decade [as a former British American Racing team principal who also heads Motorsport UK] and a big part of the FIA at the same time.
“Signing an NDA and confidentiality agreements is not the norm, but it’s becoming the norm. There definitely seems to be a more heavy-handed way of dealing with things now.”
His critique paints a picture of an FIA tightening its grip, with his sacking as a symptom of broader unrest.
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