Johnny Herbert recalls Fernando Alonso confronting him on live broadcast with "you're not a world champion" jibe

Former Formula 1 racing driver turned pundit Johnny Herbert has recently recalled Fernando Alonso taking a jibe at him on live television. The incident took place in early April 2016 at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Johnny Herbert drove in the pinnacle of motorsport from 1989 to 2000. During this time, he was able to amass 160 race starts with three victories, seven podiums, and 98 points. However, he was never able to lift the coveted drivers' world championship.

While Herbert retired in 2000, Fernando Alonso's Formula 1 career only began in 2001 at the Australian Grand Prix. Several years down the line (2016), when Herbert was doing his duties as a pundit for Sky F1, Alonso (driving for McLaren back then) confronted him in Bahrain and came up with a strong response in regard to the former, who had previously suggested that the Spaniard should retire.

The incident from back in the day has been recalled by Herbert via the Stay on Track Spotify Podcast, and he has added:

"I was there to do a job, I was there to be......yes, that's probably the easiest way of doing it. So it was basically, it started in Japan, and 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, home of the Honda, when Honda was struggling in the McLaren." (59:27 onwards).

From a specific section of the podcast, he further added:

"He's still got that way of doing it, so any anyway, so then Bahrian I think it was, and it was still sort of going on, and I mention the toxic word once again, and he was obviously watching it in the hospitality unit." (1:00:30) onwards "So then, he came out, I was with Racheal, and Racheal was talking and she said he is coming, I could see Fernando coming, this is live, so he comes over, he just comes straight in and I shook his hand then he basically sort of said you don't really know what you are talking about because you were never world champion."

Fernando Alonso has so far amassed two world championships in Formula 1, with the second coming way back in 2006. His last victory in the sport was at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix.

"Championship challenge next year": Former F1 driver backs Fernando Alonso for a third title

F1 Grand Prix of Brazil - Source: Getty

While Johnny Herbert has looked back at the incident involving him and Fernando Alonso from back in the day, the latter is still competing in Formula 1 at the age of 44. In line with this, former driver Juan Pablo Montoya feels that Alonso could challenge for the drivers' world championship in 2026.

Via a recent interaction, Montoya has added:

"You can’t write Fernando Alonso off for a championship challenge next year. If Adrian Newey doesn’t get it right with the Aston Martin next year, he will in 2027. Aston Martin will have a world champion in the next three years, I guarantee it." (Via: GPBlog).

Fernando Alosno has so far amassed 422 race starts and has gone on to secure 32 wins, 106 podiums, and 22 pole positions alongside his two world titles.

Edited by Rishabh Negi