The Dutch driver was given two separate time penalties during the Mexico City Grand Prix, with the three-time F1 Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert sitting on the stewards panel for the race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Johnny Herbert critical of Max Verstappen’s mentality
Speaking during the week following the race in Mexico, Herbert spoke about his evaluation of Verstappen’s driving – having been involved in the decision-making process that saw the reigning World Champion hit with two 10-second time penalties for his tactics in battle with McLaren title rival Lando Norris.
“Was Verstappen’s driving style on the edge or over the top? Yes, it was,” Herbert said.
“Verstappen’s driving style was harsh, especially when he’s taking a fellow driver off the track. It’s an absolute no-no from me, current drivers, former drivers and stewards.
“I am such a big fan of Verstappen and it frustrates me massively when he drives the way he did in Mexico.
“He doesn’t need to do it, he’s so good in the cockpit and at this point in the Championship, he just needs to stay out of trouble and drive as well as possible.
“When Verstappen goes into this horrible mindset of trying to gain an advantage by taking a fellow driver off the race track so Ferrari can get the one-two, that is where Verstappen needs to know he doesn’t have to do that. Just win in the cleanest possible way you can.
“The attitude in the Stewards’ room was really good and our decision was clear because the guidelines tell us what to look at and how to deal with the situation.
“When we applied the two 10-second penalties to Max Verstappen, we were all in agreement. Always remember, there are four stewards who make these decisions.”
With Herbert juggling media opportunities alongside his FIA stewarding role, it led Jos Verstappen – Max’s father – to tell Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf 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.”
Max Verstappen: Johnny Herbert comments ‘abnormal to say’
Speaking to Dutch media ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix – at which Herbert is also on the stewarding panel for the final time in F1 2024 – Verstappen was unhappy with Herbert’s comments as he questioned the consistency of decision-making.
One of Verstappen’s time penalties in Mexico was given for going off track and gaining a lasting advantage while, seven days prior, Norris was given a lesser five-second time penalty for the same transgression.
According to the stewards’ reckoning, Norris merited the lesser penalty due to having been pushed off by his title rival, which Verstappen responded to by saying: “Yes, that way you can dick a point out of everything.”
Asked about Herbert’s comments following earlier comments in the press conference in which he accused “some people” of being “biased”, Verstappen said: “Well, now you know where he stands.
