Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert will no longer serve as an FIA driver steward due to conflicts with his media commitments. The FIA determined his role as a media pundit was incompatible with steward duties.

Herbert, a three-time grand prix winner with 160 F1 starts and seven podiums to his name, faced criticism from Jos Verstappen following comments about Max Verstappen's driving at the 2022 Mexico City Grand Prix. As a steward at that race, Herbert had issued two 10-second penalties to Verstappen and later publicly commented that he didn't believe the punishments would deter similar future behavior.

The controversy highlighted the potential conflicts between serving as an impartial steward while maintaining media duties that require offering opinions on racing incidents. Jos Verstappen argued that stewards should focus solely on their officiating duties without engaging with the press.

An FIA spokesperson acknowledged Herbert's valuable experience and expertise but confirmed the mutual agreement to end his steward role due to the incompatibility with his media commitments.

This follows a similar departure of Tim Mayer, who served as both a senior steward and organizer of FIA world championships in the United States. Mayer was reportedly dismissed via text message in 2022 due to conflicts of interest between his positions.

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