Get ready for a gripping tale of an on-air clash and its lingering aftermath! Johnny Herbert, the former Sky F1 pundit, shares his perspective on an infamous encounter with Fernando Alonso, the two-time World Champion.
In 2016, during the Bahrain Grand Prix, Alonso confronted Herbert live on Sky, leaving an indelible mark on their relationship. But here's where it gets controversial: Alonso's frustration seemed to stem from Herbert's use of the word "toxic" in response to his "GP2 engine" outburst over team radio. This incident, Herbert believes, set the tone for their strained dynamic.
Herbert elaborates on the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix, a low point for McLaren and Honda, where Alonso's radio transmission became a turning point. He recalls, "It was when it was the GP2 engine, and he was sort of giving it real big slagging off over the radio. Especially that it was in Japan as well, home of the Honda, when Honda was struggling in the McLaren."
During the Stay on Track podcast, Herbert and his co-host, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, discussed the confrontation. Herbert stood by his comments, stating, "I was there to do a job. I was there to be honest."
Alonso's response, "You ended up as a commentator because you were not a World Champion," was a direct hit. Herbert adds, "I get that, when if someone is having a little bit of a dig at you, because of what's happening within your environment... But, he was very vocal about the team, and slagging the team off effectively."
And this is the part most people miss: Herbert's respect for Alonso's driving talent is evident, but he draws a line at public criticism of the team. "There's a time and a place for doing that. It's not over the radio. You do it when you're with your engineers or back at the factory... I just don't think it's the right thing to do."
The tension between the two didn't end there. In 2024, Herbert was part of the stewarding panel that penalized Alonso at the Australian Grand Prix, an incident that left George Russell stranded. Alonso's frustration with the penalty led to another awkward encounter with Herbert at Silverstone.
Herbert recalls, "I saw him at Silverstone that year, and I hadn't seen him since then. I thought, Oh, well, I'll say hi. But he just completely blanked me, turned away. He lied! He lied to me, because he's still there."
As we look ahead to the F1 2026 grid, Alonso remains an Aston Martin driver, and the team's alliance with Honda is set to roar into life. Will their past encounters cast a shadow over their future interactions? Only time will tell.
Join the conversation! Do you think Alonso's public criticism of his team was justified? Or was Herbert right to call it out? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss!
