Johnny Herbert

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Herbert suffered career-threatening injuries in 1988 in International Formula 3000 at Brands Hatch, sustaining severe ankle and foot injuries that permanently hindered his mobility. Despite this, he returned to racing in 1989 in Formula 1, scoring points on his debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix driving for Benetton. He was dropped after failing to qualify for the Canadian Grand Prix and returned to Formula 3000 in Japan. He later drove for Tyrrell, Lotus, Ligier, Benetton, Sauber, Stewart, and Jaguar. At Lotus, Herbert outqualified teammate Mika Häkkinen fourteen times in the 24 races they drove alongside each other. He won his first Grand Prix at the 1995 British Grand Prix and his third and final win at the 1999 European Grand Prix.

In Their Own Story

In 1987, Herbert guested in the ESSO MG Metro Turbo Challenge at Silverstone alongside future F1 driver Bertrand Gachot. He secured pole position and led most of the race before a clutch failure forced him to retire with only one lap remaining. Later that year, he shared a Ford Escort in a celebrity race at Brands Hatch with Bobby Gee, finishing third. His 1994 season was marred by financial woes at Lotus, where he qualified fourth for the Italian Grand Prix using an upgraded Mugen Honda but crashed in a multi-car collision at the first corner. A defining moment of sportsmanship occurred during the July round of the Fuji Long Distance Sports Car Series in 1991; Herbert stopped his Mazda 787B to aid a competitor who had suffered a high-speed puncture, an act that earned him the Sportsman Award at the 1991 Autosport Awards.

Reader's Guide

Herbert's career includes a 1991 Le Mans win with Mazda, a 2002 Sebring win with Audi, and a 2004 Le Mans Series championship with Jamie Davies in an Audi R8. He won the first season of the Speedcar Series in 2008. After Formula One, he worked as a test driver for Arrows in 2001, as Sporting Relations Manager at Jordan Grand Prix (later Midland F1) in 2005–2006, and as a pundit for Sky Sports F1 from 2012 to 2022.

Did You Know?

• Herbert won the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in 1985.
• He won the 1987 British Formula 3 title with Eddie Jordan.
• Herbert's first Grand Prix win came at the 1995 British Grand Prix after Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher collided.
• He earned the Sportsman Award at the 1991 Autosport Awards for stopping to aid a fellow competitor during a race.