Verstappen: “I Can Say It’s Quite Abnormal”
Max Verstappen stated that he finds FIA official Johnny Herbert’s comments “quite abnormal.” Herbert, a former F1 driver, was part of the four-member panel that gave Verstappen two ten-second penalties during the race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez due to incidents involving Lando Norris.
Herbert’s Criticism
This weekend, Herbert will again serve as a steward at the Sao Paulo race. Despite being a fan of Verstappen, Herbert claimed that the 27-year-old driver has a “terrible mentality,” suggesting that Verstappen intentionally pushed Norris off the track to help Ferrari finish in the top two. Herbert remarked, “I don’t see any change in Verstappen’s driving style because his number one goal is to prevent Norris from closing the gap in the drivers’ championship.”
Verstappen’s Response
Commenting on Herbert’s remarks, Verstappen told the media, “If you don’t read the positives and negatives, then everything stays nice and neutral.” He added, “I don’t understand what he said, but at least you know where he stands.” Verstappen referenced Herbert’s previous involvement as a steward at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Herbert contributed to receiving community service for swearing during an FIA press conference, stating, “But he already had a certain idea about what I said in the press conference.”
Verstappen continued, “You shouldn’t allow five-year-olds to hear this.” He quipped about Herbert’s return as a steward in Brazil, saying, “I guess he enjoys being here.”
Verstappen’s Focus on Racing
“I stay out of this. That’s not important to me. The stewards are doing their job very well. I’m just focusing on the car and whether we can improve in this area,” Verstappen said. When asked again about Herbert’s comments, he concluded, “I can say it’s quite abnormal.”
