Christian Horner hits back at Max Verstappen suggestion over F1 sacking as 'totally inappropriate' comment made

Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner has defended Max Verstappen after a Formula 1 sacking was announced earlier this week.

On Wednesday, the sport's governing body, the FIA, announced that Johnny Herbert had been removed from his role as an F1 steward ahead of the 2025 season.

The 60-year-old former driver has been involved in the stewarding and the media over the last decade but has now been axed by the FIA.

Explaining the decision in a statement, the FIA declared that Herbert's role as a media pundit made him 'incompatible' as a steward.

During the 2024 season, Herbert did several interviews with a betting company, commenting on decisions made by stewards, including the call to hand Verstappen a 20-second penalty at the Mexico Grand Prix in October after two incidents with Lando Norris.

Reacting to the sacking of Herbert, Red Bull boss Horner recently told Sky Sports that Verstappen had nothing to do with the decision made by the FIA, he said: "Well, firstly, [it was] absolutely nothing to do with Max, but absolutely the right decision.

"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 is 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."

Johnny Herbert has been axed ahead of the 2025 season. Image: Getty

Despite Horner's comments, Herbert himself has stated that he was always impartial when he was on duty as a steward.

As reported by The Express, he said: "I'm very grateful for the opportunity of being an FIA driver steward, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the role I have been involved in over the years.

"It is a difficult job and there are tough decisions that have to be made. As stewards, we have and will continue to treat both drivers and team personnel with the utmost respect and remain impartial at all times during all F1 Grand Prix weekends. Finally, I'm very grateful to the president and everyone at the FIA for the opportunities that I have been given."

After losing his role as a steward, Herbert was quickly announced as a global brand ambassador for Lola Cars, who recently entered the Formula E grid ahead of the 24/25 curtain raiser in Brazil.