Jos Verstappen has urged FIA commissioner Johnny Herbert to stop giving media interviews as the fallout continues following recent penalties handed out to his son Max.
Verstappen was handed two 10-second penalties at the Mexico Grand Prix last Sunday, with former F1 driver Herbert one of four marshals for the event at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Herbert gave his frank views on Verstappen (read here), saying he was “a big fan” of the pilot while adding that he had “a horrible mindset of trying to gain an advantage by knocking another driver off the track”.
Even Max Verstappen suggested Herbert's comments were “quite abnormal given his position and his supposed impartiality”.
Now his father has asked Herbert to remain silent and, more generally, asks the FIA to ensure this media neutrality.
“I think a commissioner should not talk to the press at all and just do his job, all the time. And that's certainly not the case now.”
Jos Verstappen also criticized the inconsistency of the decisions taken by the FIA, while recognizing that his son had gone too far in his battle with Lando Norris over the 2nd case.
“It depends a little on the penalties. Once they give five seconds, another time 10 seconds.”
“There has to be a limit in there too, so you know what penalty you're getting. I thought Max's second overrun [dans le virage 8 au Mexique] had gone too far. I think he thinks that now too.”
“I say it honestly, and I told him too. I think we need to be open and honest.”
Jos, however, remains critical of Red Bull's performance difficulties in 2024. After Mexico, Verstappen will start the São Paulo Grand Prix – where Herbert is once again commissioner – with a five-place grid penalty due to of fitting a new thermal V6 in his RB20.
“It's a fact that it's difficult at the moment. The team doesn't know how to get the most out of the car.”
“But it's nice to see that Max continues to be there fighting for every point, what he's doing is very good.”
