FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem defends sacking of Johnny Herbert as race steward
Mohammed Ben Sulayem believed that sacking Johnny Herbert was justified due to the latter's 'conflict of interest' in stewarding.
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Mohammed Ben Sulayem (via IMAGO), Johhny Herbert (via GPblog)
The FIA faced massive issues in the 2024 season due to multiple controversial rulings by the Stewards. Johnny Herbert was accused of ‘nationality bias’ by multiple individuals on the grid. Hence, the governing body sacked Herbert to save face following the issues. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem defended this decision despite the massive backlash.
Johnny Herbert was not only an FIA-appointed steward but also a media journalist, mainly for Sky Sports. The governing body sacked the Briton over a ‘conflict of interest’ in his dual roles. Mohammed Ben Sulayem highlighted that Herbert, despite being a good commissioner, was aware of the issues of his dual job. Ben Sulayem claimed that one couldn’t work as a journalist while at the same time becoming a referee during races.
Johnny was a very good commissioner, but then there was a conflict of interest, and he knows it. You can’t be a journalist in a big company and express your point of view, and then act as a commissioner, which is a referee.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem said, as reported by GPblog.
Ben Sulayem also outlined the ‘nationality bias’ issues within Herbert’s decisions as a steward. The Emirati questioned what the Briton as a journalist would do if his favorite driver wasn’t in the first place. The FIA decided to not find out the hard way and took the easy route of just axing the 60-year-old and not facing backlash over the latter’s rulings.
And what happens if that driver you prefer has another driver in first or second place? How do you make your judgement?
Mohammed Ben Sulayem added
Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirms Johhny Herbert ‘understood’ the sacking
Johhny Herbert’s ‘incompatible’ work within the media outlet was also the reason behind his sacking. Mohammed Ben Sulayem asserted that the Briton ‘understood’ the decision and thanked the governing body. Ben Sulayem also confirmed that everyone thanked the 60-year-old for his service to the sport.
The exit was… he understood it and thanked the FIA, and we thanked him for what he did.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem noted
Formula 1 has since then tried to give more power to the stewards to enable better ruling during races. The FIA recently imposed a ban on the drivers ill-talking the governing body, risking race bans. Hence, the coming time will be better as the sport will try to avoid such big controversies among the stewards and the drivers.
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Aditya Pandya
(1514 Articles Published)