Horner denies Verstappen played part in Herbert FIA exit

Christian Horner has said Max Verstappen had "absolutely nothing to do" with Johnny Herbert losing his role as an FIA steward. The 60-year-old was stood down from the volunteer position after the governing body deemed his punditry work "incompatible" with the requirements of stewarding. It is a move the Red Bull team principal agrees with, citing Premier League football to underline his point, adding that someone cannot have "a foot in both camps" between officiating and the media. In particular, Herbert's comments about Max Verstappen's on-track conduct in the Mexico City Grand Prix caused a stir, with Jos Verstappen responding by hitting out at the fellow ex-Benetton and Stewart driver in the press. As part of a wider debate surrounding stewarding, there have been increased calls to the FIA for it to hire full-time stewards, as opposed to relying on volunteers. The hope is that doing so would remove the need for those in the role to seek work elsewhere, like Herbert did, thus removing the potential for a conflict of interest. The fact that it currently happens is "totally inappropriate" in Horner's view. "Firstly, it has absolutely nothing to do with Max, but it's absolutely the right decision," the 51-year-old told Sky Sports News . "You cannot have stewards working in the media. "You don't have it in the Premiership, you don't have it in any other form of professional sport. It's totally inappropriate. You're either on the sporting regulatory side or you're on the media side. "You can't have a foot in both camps."