The FIA-Johnny Herbert case
The news of Johnny Herbert’s “dismissal” from the FIA stewards’ panel has sparked debate among fans. The former English driver was deemed no longer suitable for the role of steward because he simultaneously continued working as a columnist, sometimes expressing opinions—especially about Max Verstappen—that were considered incompatible with the impartial stance required of a judge. This development has inevitably reignited discussions about having professional stewards in F1.
Currently, stewards only receive expense reimbursements for each GP they attend and are not specifically paid for their work. Many in the paddock have long been calling for a change in this regard. Among them is McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, who has admitted he wants to push for a professionalization of the stewards who make up the judging panel at each of the 24 F1 calendar races.
Zak Brown’s comments
“The most important thing we need to do,” said the CEO of the reigning Constructors’ Champion team during the Autosport Business Exchange event in London, “is to take a different approach to the stewarding system. We have part-time stewards who are not paid in a multi-billion-dollar sport where making the right decisions is crucial… It’s a very technical job where, if you do it correctly, no one says ‘Well done, great job,’ and I don’t think we are on the right path without having full-time stewards.”
According to Zak Brown, the problem also lies in the regulations: “The people are fine, but the rulebook is sometimes too restrictive. I’d like us to take a step back and loosen the rules. I’d like us to have full-time stewards who can make more subjective decisions on what is right or wrong. As for paying them, it might be unpopular among my colleagues, but I’d be happy if McLaren and all the teams contributed to their salaries. It’s very important for the sport, and it wouldn’t be too expensive if everyone chipped in.”
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