Former driver shares Herbert verdict: 'Qualified but that's controversial'
On Tuesday, it was announced by the FIA that Johnny Herbert will no longer be an F1 steward, as the Briton's role and being a media pundit was 'incompatible', the governing body's statement shared. Former F1 driver Jan Lammers understands why the decision was made given Herbert's previous comments in the media.
While working as a steward, Herbert often appeared on betting sites sharing his opinion on all sorts of matters within F1, as he talked about the drivers and teams he was supposed to hand penalties out to. He could also talk about the decisions they made during Grands Prix weekends. "That's controversial, we just have to be real about that. I think people have been surprised by that in the past. So the fact that this has now resulted in them not continuing together does not surprise me," former F1 driver Jan Lammers explained to Motorsport.com.
Herbert meanwhile has a new job to hand
Today, it was announced that Herbert will join Lola as the team's Formula E programme ambassador. The Briton will help strengthen the brand as a leader in sustainable engineering and motorsport, focusing on the following areas of electrification, hydrogen and renewable fuels and materials. He will also work directly with sponsors and customers as well.
According to Lammers, Herbert was well-equipped to be a steward, but still believes the former driver can reap the rewards of doing something new. "I raced with him myself, of course, and in itself he was someone who, even with his Grand Prix victories, was fully qualified to do that job. Although that is not to say that there are not more people who could also do it well. Besides, change can often be refreshing," the 68-year-old analyst concluded.
This article was written in collaboration with Estéban den Toom
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels!