F1 News
Herbert finally speaks out on his FIA sacking: 'Fired over the phone'
Former FIA steward Johnny Herbert has spoken out and explained what exactly happened between him and FIA that caused him to lose his job. The Brit was a part of the stewarding team for the 2024 season, but early in January 2025, the governing body of Formula 1 decided to part ways with the 60-year-old.
There had been a bit of controversy surrounding the Brit and his stewarding role throughout the 2024 season, with many people unhappy that Herbert would be able to judge and steward F1 races impartially, but also conduct interviews, for a fee, where he would openly criticise certain drivers on the grid, with Max Verstappen being one of the Brit's main targets.
As a result, the FIA came to the decision to let Herbert go from his steward's post before the 2025 season got underway, citing that his "duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible".
Herbert: "That's why the president made the decision to get rid of me"
Speaking to CasinoApps.com, Herbert finally broke the silence as to how he was let go by the governing body: "It didn’t come from within the FIA initially. It was all to do with the 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," continued the Brit, surprised at his seemingly abrupt sacking.
"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 [of the FIA] and that’s why the president finally made that decision to get rid of me," Herbert concluded.
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