FIA president provides justification for Herbert removal as F1 steward

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has addressed the reasons for Johnny Herbert's exit from the motorsport governing body.

The F1 driver-turned-pundit had for the past 15 years helped oversee the championship as a steward, fulfilling his duties on a rotational basis alongside other ex-drivers.

However, the FIA felt the extent of Herbert's media work was "incompatible" with the requirements of a steward, opting to stand the 60-year-old down from the position ahead of the 2025 season.

It is a decision that has been broadly supported, but it has also cast a bright spotlight on stewarding in the upper echelons of motorsport, something that is likely to become a defining issue across the opening rounds of the F1 campaign ahead.

Currently, it is a volunteer position, which means many of those in the role need to seek outside employment, which in the case of Herbert created an undeniable conflict of interest.

There have been increasing calls from drivers and team principals within F1 for stewarding to be professionalised, with a full-time roster of officials, which would also produce greater consistency across decisions and rulings.

Unsurprisingly, Ben Sulayem is acutely aware of the pitfalls from the existing system, which he highlighted when discussing Herbert's specific situation - and why the governing body had to act.

"Johnny was a very good steward, but then there was a conflict of interest and he knows that," the FIA president told Spanish publication Marca.

"You can’t be a journalist in a big company and express your point of view and then play the steward, who is a referee. You [might] 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 you make your judgement?

"He understood [the reason for his exit] and he thanked the FIA [for the opportunity], and we thanked him for what he did."