F1 pundit reveals source of 'worst' online abuse: 'That's easy!'

Johnny Herbert has pointed to accusations of pro-Lewis Hamilton bias as the driving force behind the most extreme online criticism he has encountered, with the former F1 racer and FIA steward saying much of it has come from supporters of Max Verstappen. The Briton was one of England’s leading representatives in Formula 1 throughout the 1990s before retiring from the championship in 2000. He later embarked on a second career as a pundit and FIA steward, although that chapter has also come to an end in recent times. Asked which fanbase he had received the most abuse from during his career as a pundit, Herbert told a betting site: "That’s easy! The Dutch fans who took issue with me questioning Max Verstappen. Actually, they weren't just Dutch. They were from other countries as well. ‘Death to Herbert.’ They were the worst. They accuse me of being biased. They still do to Martin Brundle." Herbert dismissed suggestions that he favours Lewis Hamilton, arguing that while it is natural for British pundits to support a British driver, their analysis remains objective. He pointed out that Dutch fans similarly back Verstappen, while stressing that the Red Bull driver’s performances are also widely admired. Herbert compared the situation to football, where he would naturally support England if they were playing the Netherlands. "They say, 'You’re biased to Lewis Hamilton'. Well, we are British, and Lewis is a Brit!. You’re Dutch, and you support Max, and you're saying we're biased, but you want us to support Max. They can’t have it both ways. "Of course we are going to support a British driver but it’s objective. We are wowed by the Flying Dutchman too. If England were playing Holland in football, of course I’m going to support England." Photo: Red Bull Content Pool Photo: Red Bull Content Pool F1 reporter recalls massive backlash over Verstappen interview Rachel Brookes also recently recalled the intense social media backlash she faced after questioning Verstappen about his clash with George Russell at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. The former Sky F1 reporter asked Verstappen whether the incident had been deliberate after Nico Rosberg, who was working as a pundit that weekend, suggested it may have been intentional. Brookes said her intention was simply to put the opinion of a former F1 world champion directly to Verstappen. When the Dutchman questioned why it mattered, she argued that fans and younger viewers would want to know, although Verstappen interpreted her response as a reference to his status as a role model. While several broadcasters praised Brookes for raising a question that others in the media pen had avoided, the reaction online was far more aggressive. She received highly personal abuse, including messages saying she should not be allowed to have children. Brookes described the response as horrific and ultimately decided to disable comments on her social media.