FIA steward sacked weeks after Max Verstappen's father raised 'conflict of interest' alarm
FIA has sacked race steward Tim Mayer weeks after Red Bull driver Max Verstappen's father Jos cited a "conflict of interest" regarding decision-making. The Dutch driver won his fourth consecutive world championship at the end of the Las Vegas Grand Prix with two races remaining but it was not all smooth sailing for him in the 2024 season.
The 27-year-old had several run-ins with the sport's governing body and race stewards over their decision-making, especially during the Singapore GP to the Brazilian GP. The FIA sacked or let go many top officials before Las Vegas's race, including race director Neils Wittich, whom Rui Macques replaced. As per The Independent, Mayer became the latest to face the sword after the governing body decided to sack him after 15 years of unpaid stewarding.
Mayer was among the race stewards alongside Johnny Herbert who gave Verstappen a 20-second penalty for driving against Lando Norris at the 2024 Mexican GP. After the race, Jos Verstappen told de Telegraaf that the FIA should be mindful of biases in the race stewards' room while allegedly pointing fingers at Mayer and Herbert, saying:
"The FIA should take a good look at the composition of the stewards, who they put there, and whether there is any appearance of a conflict of interest. For example, former drivers who have more sympathy for certain drivers or riders."
Tim is the son of McLaren's co-founder Teddy Mayer and has been a race steward in several motorsport categories.
Max Verstappen gives his take on being targeted by FIA
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has said that former F1 driver and race steward Johnny Herbert's comments on his driving style did not impact him. As per RacingNews365, the former Sky F1 pundit had said:
“I don’t see Max Verstappen’s driving changing because the number one goal is to stop Norris from closing the gap for the drivers' championship."
Verstappen replied in Interlagos:
"You shouldn't read the positive and negative, then it stays nice and neutral. I didn't get any of it, but at least then you know where he stands on it. But he did have a very big opinion ready about what I said in the press conference."
"You shouldn't let five-year-olds hear that, because, of course, you can't. But I don't hear him say anything after Mexico about anything going on there. Maybe the five-year-olds are asleep by then because it's pretty late. I keep out of that. I'm not into it at all either. They [the stewards] are all doing just fine. I'm just concentrating on the car, and can we improve enough in that area," Max Verstappen added.
During the Singapore GP press conference, Herbert had criticized Verstappen for using foul language. He was handed a punishment of community service.