Johnny Herbert, the former FIA steward who stepped down at the end of the 2024 season, has spoken out about the harsh treatment he received from a section of Max Verstappen fans. In a recent interview, he described those supporters as the worst he has ever encountered in his paddock career.
Herbert, also known for his role as a Sky Sports F1 pundit, admitted he often became a target of hatred after commenting on Verstappen's racing style, which he once called a “horrible mindset” when battling wheel-to-wheel. That comment, made during an interview with a sports betting website, triggered a wave of verbal attacks from Verstappen's loyal fanbase.
“The Dutch fans who took issue with me questioning Max Verstappen,” Herbert told the betting site. “Actually, they weren’t just Dutch. They were from other countries as well: ‘Death to Herbert.’ They were the worst. They accuse me of being biased. They still do to Martin Brundle.”
The criticism from Verstappen fans often ties into accusations of bias against British drivers. Herbert, being British himself, feels no guilt in supporting drivers like Lewis Hamilton. “They say, ‘You’re biased to Lewis Hamilton.’ Well, we are British – and Lewis is a Brit. You’re Dutch and you support Max and you’re saying we’re biased, but you want us to support Max. They can’t have it both ways. Of course we are going to support a British driver, but it’s objective. We are wowed by the Flying Dutchman too. If England were playing Holland in football, of course I’m going to support England,” he asserted.
Herbert's departure from the FIA steward role gives him the freedom to no longer maintain neutrality. However, his outspoken comments could prompt fans to re-evaluate the controversial decisions he made while on duty. This is likely to spark heated debate among F1 enthusiasts, especially with Red Bull recently unveiling a new look for Verstappen at the Dutch GP.
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