Max Verstappen has recently found himself in trouble with the FIA.
FIA steward Johnny Herbert has openly expressed his admiration for Max Verstappen, calling the three-time world champion a ‘very decent guy’ and recognizing his ‘sense of humour’.
Verstappen and Herbert have clashed since the Brit, who served as an FIA steward during the last two races in Mexico City and Sao Paulo, issued the Red Bull driver two 10-second time penalties.
His frustrations with Herbert actually date back to the race in Singapore, following which the former Sky Sports F1 pundit condemned Verstappen for cursing during the Thursday press conference. The FIA penalized him for it, but the Red Bull racer was infuriated afterward and has maintained his position on the issue since.
Despite their altercations, Herbert holds no grudges against Verstappen. “I appreciated Max’s humor during the press conference [in Brazil],” he shared with SafestBettingSites. “He is highly conscious of his surroundings.” That is the reason Max enjoys such popularity. Indeed, he possesses an advantage. To be a champion, you must truly be.
At times, many individuals do not see eye to eye in specific situations. I didn’t support his actions in Mexico, but he has demonstrated that he can overcome everything and still possesses a wonderful sense of humor. He does face some criticism and occasionally complicates things for himself, but at his core, he is a genuinely good person.
Despite support from many in the paddock for the decision to penalize Verstappen, the reigning champion’s team was enraged, and their discontent with the FIA was clear after a red flag incident during qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix impacted the 27-year-old adversely.
These remarks might help mend the connection between Herbert and the Verstappen family. In Brazil, Max’s father Jos criticized him, stating: “I believe a steward should refrain from speaking to the media and focus solely on performing their duties.” “And that is definitely not the situation at present.”