Steward and former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert has once again criticized Max Verstappen. Having previously condemned the Dutchman’s driving style earlier this season, he revisits his critique following the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Herbert refers to a certain form of ‘intimidation’ that few drivers can handle.
Johnny Herbert, who regularly serves as an FIA steward, also works as an analyst for the betting website Coin Poker. In a recent column, he reflects on the Abu Dhabi GP, particularly focusing on the incident between Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. The Dutchman nudged his Australian competitor in the first turn, causing both to spin. “It’s all about intimidation,” says Herbert. “McLaren will pose a threat to him next year.” Although McLaren had the fastest car in 2024, Verstappen managed to secure the championship thanks to his strong start to the season.
Verstappen versus Piastri?
“We’ve seen that Oscar Piastri has the potential to win races and perhaps even a world championship, just like Lando Norris,” Herbert explained. “When you’re racing wheel to wheel as in Abu Dhabi, neither will back down. You heard the radio communication; Piastri said ‘good’ when he heard that Verstappen had received a penalty. That’s fantastic. We have someone else ready to take him on. Fortunately, we’ve already seen a shift this season. George Russell has had a few issues and verbal confrontations with him (Verstappen), but that’s exactly what Max has been doing so well for years: he uses all weapons, including intimidation.”
After the GP of Mexico, Johnny Herbert was already under fire. During that race, he acted as a steward for the FIA and was partly responsible for the twenty-second time penalty imposed on Verstappen. The Englishman stated that he and his colleagues ‘acted strictly according to the rules.’ In a later interview with another betting site, Herbert condemned Max Verstappen’s driving style: “Sometimes he still falls into that terrible mentality where he tries to gain an advantage by driving a fellow driver off the track,” he said then. “He really doesn’t need that.”
