Verstappen makes FIA steward accusation: 'It is pretty abnormal'

Max Verstappen believes the remarks from FIA steward Johnny Herbert to be "pretty abnormal" after the former F1 racer sat in judgment on the three-time champion during the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Herbert was a member of the four-man panel that handed Red Bull driver Verstappen two 10-second penalties for incidents involving McLaren's Lando Norris during the race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, leading to the Dutchman finishing sixth.

The three-time grand prix winner, who will again be adjudicating at this weekend's race in São Paulo, claimed that although he is a fan of Verstappen, he believes the 27-year-old has a "horrible mindset".

Herbert felt Verstappen deliberately pushed Norris off track to help Ferrari score a one-two finish.

Herbert added: “I don’t see Verstappen’s driving changing because the number one goal is to stop Norris from closing the gap for the drivers' championship."

Asked at Interlagos what he made of Herbert's remarks, speaking to media including RacingNews365, Verstappen said: "You shouldn't read the positive and negative, then it stays nice and neutral.

"I didn't get any of it, but at least then you know where he stands on it."

Referencing the Singapore Grand Prix, where Herbert was again a steward and played a part in handing Verstappen a community service punishment for using the f-word in an official FIA press conference, Verstappen added: "But he did have a very big opinion ready about what I said in the press conference.

"You shouldn't let five-year-olds hear that, because, of course, you can't. But I don't hear him say anything after Mexico about anything going on there. Maybe the five-year-olds are asleep by then because it's pretty late."

As to again being stewarded by Herbert in Brazil, Verstappen laughed before stating: "He likes being here, I think.

"I keep out of that. I'm not into it at all either. They [the stewards] are all doing just fine. I'm just concentrating on the car, and can we improve enough in that area."

Pressed again on Herbert's comments, Verstappen concluded: "It is pretty abnormal, I would say."