Johnny Herbert has strongly criticized F1 fans who accuse British commentators of bias against Max Verstappen. The ex-commentator and former FIA steward finds the British analysts mostly objective, but understands that they also encourage the British drivers. Herbert also finds it striking that Dutch fans accuse him of bias, while they themselves openly cheer for Verstappen.
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Herbert was dismissed as FIA steward before the 2025 F1 season, after his work as a media analyst was deemed ‘incompatible’ with his role by the organization. The three-time race winner had long been under fire from Max Verstappen fans. During the 2024 Mexican GP, he was partly responsible for a heavy time penalty of no less than twenty seconds for Verstappen. Later, in his role as a media personality, he would again express strong criticism of the Dutchman.
The Brit then became a prominent part of the fierce title battle between Verstappen and Lando Norris. According to Herbert, his criticism of Verstappen led to a flood of online insults, with Dutch fans also turning against him. The accusations of bias, he says, are directed not only at him but also at former Sky Sports colleague Martin Brundle.
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‘Death to Johnny Herbert’
A betting platform asked Herbert from which group of fans he had received the most criticism. “That’s easy,” the former F1 driver responded immediately, “the Dutch fans who disagreed with my commentary on Max Verstappen. To be honest, it wasn’t just the Dutch. There were various nationalities among them. ‘Death to Herbert.’ Those were the worst threats,” he revealed sharply. “They accused me of bias and still do so with Martin Brundle.”
Herbert says he finds the criticism hard to reconcile with the attitude of Dutch fans towards Verstappen. “They say: ‘You are biased for Lewis Hamilton.’ Well, we are British – and Lewis is British. You are Dutch and you support Max. We are accused of bias, but then have to express our support for Verstappen. That doesn’t go together. Of course, we support the British, but the commentary is objective. After all, we are also impressed by the Flying Dutchman,” he referred to Verstappen. “But if England plays against the Netherlands in football, of course I cheer for England too.”
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