Herbert - Steward Behind Verstappen's Controversial Penalty Speaks Out

Saturday, 05 October 2024 at 14:00

One of the stewards behind Max Verstappen's controversial penalty for swearing, Johny Herbert, shared his opinion and gave insight into everything that happened.

Max Verstappen's penalty for swearing has probably been the biggest topic of the Autumn break. The 27-year-old Dutchman was given this penalty after the FIA press conference ahead of the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.

In describing issues with his car (related to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend), Verstappen used an F-word, and consequently, he was summoned to the stewards.

Former F1 driver and member of the stewards who talked to Verstappen, Johny Herbert, first shared his personal opinion on the swearing, as he told Casino Hawks:

"At the press conference in Singapore, Max used the F-word about his car. The press conferences are beamed around the world. There is more swearing than there ever has been. A press conference is not the place for it."

"Some journalists have said the sport is trying to make robots out of the drivers. That's not the case - you are just asking them not to swear which I think is the right thing. Most drivers don't swear."

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The triple World Champion is known for not mincing his words, whether on the team radio or when speaking to the media during press conferences and other interviews.

However, the FIA has lately been trying to reduce the amount of swear words broadcast to the public and has warned drivers to watch their language. Herbert described what happened after Max Verstappen entered the stewards' room:

"The incident was referred to us as stewards and we had a good open chat with Max for about 20 minutes, half-an-hour, in what was a difficult situation."

"We could have fined him, but we felt it would be more beneficial to get him to do something socially responsible. It is up to Max and the FIA what that is."

The stewards' final verdict was that Verstappen was "obliged to accomplish some work of public interest." This ruling has been quite controversial, and drivers like Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton have expressed their disagreement. Herbert continued:

"You could see in his face he was really worked up about it. But when he left, he appeared to be mollified about the process and why it's there. He did not blame us as stewards."

While the 27-year-old F1 driver didn't blame the stewards, he decided to protest at the following two press conferences that he attended (post-qualifying and post-race).

In both of these, the Dutchman only returned very brief, unmeaningful answers to all of the questions, and then he held his mini-conference afterward. Herbert added:

"It all blew up afterwards because he went to the press conference and gave one-word answers then held his own impromptu press conference outside in the paddock."

"That showed Max's rebellious streak. I love that side of him, it is what makes Max, Max, his honest and outspoken character. But there is a time and a place. Personally, I think there is too much swearing. I don't want my five-year-old grandchild listening to that sort of language."