has joined the just lately revived motorsport outfit Lola as a model ambassador – simply at some point after dropping his function as an steward this 12 months.
On Wednesday morning, former F1 driver Herbert, 60, was for the in March and the remainder of the 2025 season.
The , F1’s governing physique, deemed Herbert’s twin function as a steward and pundit as “incompatible.”
But Herbert might be concerned with British automotive producer Lola’s programme – as a powertrain provider for Yamaha – and future tasks within the years forward, having signed an settlement with shut good friend Keith Smout, who’s Lola’s chief industrial officer.
“The good factor for me is that Lola’s return is each an amazing information story for the motorsport trade and likewise it nearly marries collectively completely different eras of racing,” Herbert informed .
“Lola’s heritage was all about the place the engineers got here from. They went by Lola, March, Reynard, and so on. and at the moment it was like a college for engineers.
“In 2025 it’s not solely again, but it surely’s again in some of the progressive varieties of racing you may get – Formulation E. And figuring out Until [Bechtolsheimer, Lola owner], and guys like Keith that is simply the beginning of a brand new technical journey so it’s actually thrilling.
“For Until to provide you with the concept to present it one other likelihood to return onto the racetrack, it is pretty to see.
“It is folks like Until that we have to have round to convey these great names again into motorsport and that is precisely what he is doing nowadays.”
Herbert goes into his new function after dropping his function within the F1 stewards room, following criticism from Max Verstappen’s dad, Jos, final 12 months.
Herbert of Verstappen’s driving fashion in Mexico final 12 months, when the four-time world champion obtained a 20-second penalty, prompting father Jos to rebuke: “I believe a steward shouldn’t speak to the press in any respect.”
When criticised by the Verstappens final 12 months, Herbert fired again and maintained his views as a pundit could possibly be separated from his rulings as a steward.
“As I’ve at all times stated, I’m Johnny Herbert the steward and the skilled throughout a race weekend and Johnny Herbert a pundit at different occasions who expresses what he thinks,” Herbert stated, in November.
“When I’m a steward, I don’t specific any opinions. Everybody has an opinion. Martin Brundle has an opinion. Why can’t I when I’m not on the racetrack?”
The 24-race 2025 F1 season , with a 10-team season happening on the O2 Area in London on 18 February.
