FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has detailed the reasons for Johnny Herbert’s dismissal as F1 steward, highlighting a “conflict of interest”.

At the end of January, the FIA announced that Herbert would not be an F1 steward𝐆 for the upcoming 2025 season.

The 𒆙FIA cited Herbert’s media work, describing the combination of punditry and stewarding as “incompatible”.

While Herbert hasn’t been part of Sky Sports coverage since the end of 2022, the former British F1 driver has often been outspoken to dig♒ital𓆏 media outlets.

Herbert was vocal in criticising 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen f🐼or his aggressive driving throughout last year, particularly in Mexico.

Herbert accused Verstappen of “i꧟ntimidation” tactics, with his comments not going down well with Jos Verstappen.

Speaking to , Ben Sulayem commented on Herber💦t’s sacking.

“Johnny was a very good commissioner, but then there was a conflict of interest and he knows that,” he sai𝓀d.

“Yo꧙u can’t be a journalist in a big company and express your point of view and then play the cꦕommissioner, who is a referee. You say: ‘My best case scenario is that so-and-so wins.’

“And what if that driver you prefer has another driver in first or second place? How do yo🤪u make your judgement? He understood and he than♛ked the FIA and we thanked him for what he did.”

Ben Sulayem teases “new blood” 

Following Herbert’s dismissal, Ben Sulayem has teas😼ed that new stewards will be involved moving for𝓰ward.

The FIA h💦as a pool of stewards who rotate throughouℱt the year.

They use ex-F1🍸 drivers, such as Vitantonio Liuzzi and Derek Warwick, to give their opinions during race weekends.

“We should not ❀be limited and that is why tomorrow with the stewards we will have new blood,” Ben Sulayem added.

“It will give us a new🧸 selection that is going to sustain the business o🌼f motorsport.”

The F😼IA 🎉president also confirmed there will be multiple race directors throughout the year.

The identity of the second race director is ✅still unconfirmed, with Rui Marques holding the role for the final three races in 2024 following Niels Wittich's𒐪 shock exit.