Jos Verstappen tells FIA steward 'to stop talking to the media'

Jos Verstappen has urged FIA steward Johnny Herbert to stop giving interviews to the media as the fallout continues following son Max's recent penalties.

Three-time F1 champion Verstappen was hit with two 10-second penalties during last Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix, with former F1 driver Herbert one of the four-man panel officiating the event at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Herbert was later interviewed, offering his forthright views on Verstappen as a driver, declaring himself to be "a big fan" of the 27-year-old, but also of possessing "a horrible mindset of trying to gain an advantage by taking a fellow driver off the race track".

Even Verstappen suggested that Herbert making such comments was "pretty abnormal".

Now his father has called on Herbert to stay silent. Speaking to Viaplay, he said: "I think a steward shouldn't talk to the press at all and just deliver work all the time. And that's certainly not the case now."

Following on from Mexico City, Verstappen will start the São Paulo Grand Prix - where Herbert is again a steward - with a five-place grid penalty due to his RB20 requiring a new internal combustion engine.

Additionally, Verstappen was also handed a five-second time penalty for an infringement under the virtual safety car during the sprint, dropping him from third at the chequered flag to fourth, and costing him an additional point in his drivers' title fight with Lando Norris.

Assessing the battle ahead, Verstappen Sr said: "It depends a bit on the penalties. One time they give five seconds, another time 10 seconds.

"There has to be a line in that, too, so that you know what penalty you're getting. I thought Max's second overtaking move [in Turn 8 in Mexico] went too far. I think he thinks so now too.

"I say that honestly, also to him. That's fine. I think we have to be open and honest."