Damon Hill responds to Jos Verstappen claims about Johnny Herbert bias

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Damon Hill has responded to Jos Verstappen’s claims that Johnny Herbert is biased against Max Verstappen when making decisions as an FIA steward.

Herbert is part of the pool of driver stewards that step in on a race-by-race basis at the FIA and was recently involved in the decisions that went against Verstappen in Mexico.

Verstappen received two 10-second time penalties for his incidents with title rival Lando Norris, including one for forcing him off track and another for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

The Dutchman’s father, Jos Verstappen, unleashed into a tirade against Herbert in the aftermath accusing him of bias and insisting that “a steward shouldn’t talk to the press at all and just deliver work all the time.”

Verstappen, who Sky Sports F1’s Damon Hill heavily criticised for his manoeuvres on Norris, claimed: “I’ve got the wrong passport for this paddock.” Hill has responded to the claims made by Jos Verstappen against Herbert in an Instagram story post.

Damon Hill responds to Jos Verstappen saying Johnny Herbert has the ‘right to an opinion’

Hill has backed Herbert after he was attacked by Verstappen for his stewarding, having been one of the main people who will have influenced the decisions made during the race in Mexico.

The FIA stewards are also made up of three other members, including one permanent member and two local stewards.

Taking to Instagram, Hill supported Herbert with whom he has shared broadcasting duties on Sky Sports F1 in previous years.

“JH has a right to an opinion. More than most actually,” wrote Hill.

Max Verstappen finds public criticism from Johnny Herbert ‘abnormal’

Herbert has gone on record to claim that Verstappen is ‘one of the best drivers’ he has ever seen in F1, but questioned why the Dutchman thinks he has to make aggressive moves to defend his positions.

The incidents during the Mexico City Grand Prix called into question Verstappen’s ability to defend his position without driving his rivals off the road, with a change to the FIA driving guidelines expected to by made in time for the Qatar GP to address concerns from fellow drivers.

READ MORE: The five worst moments of Max Verstappen’s career in Formula 1

When speaking over the Sao Paulo GP weekend, Verstappen branded Herbert’s criticism as ‘abnormal’ and felt his approach did not create any problems.

Herbert was also on hand as a driver steward in Brazil in what will be his last of the season, having drawn on his 165 Grands Prix starts to advise on incidents.