Johnny's on top form
Website exclusive interview

At the Johnny Herbert Charity Karting event on 14th November 1999, David Cunliffe interviewed  Johnny, exclusively for the Johnny Herbert Website, for the third year running. Johnny was very relaxed, happy and on top form. This year's questions came from Johnny's fans, sent in before the event. Due to time limitations, not all the questions could be asked, but it was still the best Website interview yet! Thank you to everyone who participated.

Which year was your favourite in Formula One?

JH: I think it has to be this year. Just because [Stewart-Ford] is an enjoyable team to be with, the guys are brilliant, and it's good working under Jackie and Paul. From that point, it's probably the most enjoyable year I've had. My second most enjoyable time was probably when I was at Lotus.

Which country puts on the best overall event each year?

JH: That's a very difficult one. I must say that the Malaysian one this year was actually very, very, very good. It was a brilliant circuit, a brilliant facility, so I think that, for a first time, it was one of the best ones we've been to.

What were you thinking when you added the green to your helmet?

JH: Err... well... it looked good on the computer! But... in real life... it didn't! So that's why it's gone to blue - because I think the blue looks much better.

How did you develop your latest helmet design?

JH: A guy in the design side [d-sign] of Rod Vickery's company, Graphic Concept, came up with it for me. I said to him that I wanted to try and get a bit patriotic without changing the design too much. I also wanted to simplify the design, which had too many lines on it, so that it was better for sponsorship. But I wanted to keep the same colours. He came up with the Union Jack [on the top of the helmet], which was good. He came up with the green - which looked good on the computer - but then, as you know, we changed that. I came up with the Union Jack on the chin which matched the one on the top.   

During your F1 career you have seen many drivers leave the sport - are there any personalities you particularly miss?

JH: Well, I suppose the biggest one would probably be Nigel [Mansell]. He was quite a character, the way he went on with everything. Other than that, the biggest one I've missed - who left in a different way, unfortunately - must be Ayrton [Senna]. He was a great guy.

If you had to choose your favourite F1 car (whether or not you have driven it) to drive around your favourite track corner, battling wheel to wheel with any driver, what would your answers be?

JH: Well, I think the car would have to be 1992 spec - I would imagine that the 1992 Williams would have been a brilliant car to drive. Or even the 1991 McLaren - is that the right year? Maybe 1990 or 1989 - like that one [points to one of several McLaren photos on the wall] - with the Honda engine. And it would have to be wheel to wheel with Ayrton [grins], going through Eau Rouge [laughs]! 

On the Website Forum, people have been discussing their favourite Johnny moments [JH: I saw some of that]. Jenny's personal favourite was the Silverstone win in 1995. What was yours?

JH: [immediately] The win at the Nürburgring. Definitely. Obviously, of my race wins, it was the best one, for sure. It was the most emotional one out of the three - for everybody. Everybody was happy about it - except the marketing side was a bit bad... [said deadpan within earshot of Cameron Kelleher, SGP's PR man, as a wind up!]

How do you feel about your new partner, Eddie Irvine?

JH: It will be interesting because [still winding up Cameron!] I know the team are going to choose him as their favourite so that's going to make things quite difficult for me... [bursts out laughing at Cameron's reaction!]. I'm looking forward to the challenge - but at the end of the day I'm going to blow his little green shamrocks off!!! [laughs]

Your fans still can remember Monza in 1994 [when Eddie took Johnny off at the first chicane in the first lap of the race after he'd qualified the Lotus in a fantastic 4th place] - have you forgiven Eddie for that?

JH: Well, yes, I have. At the end of the day, it was very unfortunate for me and for Lotus at that particular point in time. Sure, it was one of those things you don't like - I wasn't happy at the time - but Eddie's improved immensely since then.

Even though Eddie didn't win this year's championship, do you think that Jaguar might create a situation like the one in 1995 [at Benetton with Michael Schumacher]? How confident are you that Jaguar will not let this happen, and furthermore do you think the momentum you've gained over the past couple of months will allow you a greater influence within team circles?

JH: It will definitely not be like the 1995 situation because the team are not that way inclined. Ford don't do things like that and Jackie [Stewart] doesn't do things like that. So there's gonna be nothing, nothing like that at all. [Looks at Cameron and says] Do you know something I don't?! [laughing] No, no, not at all... I'm fully confident that will never ever happen. Secondly, yes, over the last three races for me especially, it's something that has given me an immense amount of confidence. It was very good for me because it's shown that I can do a very competent job and I think that they are all very aware of that, so I think we are all looking forward to working together next season. 

Do you expect Eddie Irvine to be a good number 2 when you are leading the Jaguar charge in 2000?!!!

JH: [deadpan] I think absolutely, definitely so - and I'm confident that will be the case [laughs].

Did you ever expect to be in F1 for as long as you have been?

JH: Well, yes - you want to be in something as long as you can, as long as you're enjoying it. I'm still enjoying it and I've still got goals I've set. As long as I keep driving well enough to keep the drive then so be it. In terms of years, I've only been in F1 about 8½ - it's ten with gaps. It says a lot about my personality and that I've done a good enough job to stay in - if you don't do a good enough job then you just don't have a chance.

Baz says:

This year (before the Nürburgring), was not a good one for you, and some people have been quick to point the finger at you. Do you ever feel that you are fighting a losing battle in the public perception of your performance or do you feel you are winning?

JH: I think if you look at the end of this year then I won in that sense. Yes, things weren't good at the beginning of the year, but there were reasons why - the reliability was one thing. But, at the end of the day, I stuck to my guns, I worked at it - never gave up - and I proved that I could do a very, very good job. Obviously, to win a race as well, was another sign that... [DC: you're The Man?!], yeah, I'm still The Man, OK!

Do you still consider driving in F1 to be fun? It seems so serious these days, has there been a definite change from your experience?

JH: There has been a big change but it's still fun when you're driving the car. But the job has got more difficult and there's not as much time to have fun because, probably, there's so much money invested in F1 that you have to do a professional job. It's probably become more and more professional since I started.

Will you be given a company Jag to drive around in next year and if so can I have your Skyline, please??!!

JH: Err... no! But I will be driving a Jaguar, for sure.

After F1 what would you like to do? Continue racing in another series or maybe media?

JH: It all depends how I feel at the end of it. Maybe there will be another challenge I want to do that's still in racing. I'll have to wait until that point comes because, at the moment, my aim is to stay in F1 for another couple of seasons after the next one.

Who was your favourite Beatle?

JH: Errr... I don't know really. [DC: you're not old enough surely?!] Well, I know of them obviously... I suppose John really. He was the one who was most instrumental in the whole Beatle saga.

If you have ever had a pint of "Flying Herbert"? (Apparently it's a fine brew from Boro, brewed for the first time around about 1989.) 

[Johnny looks puzzled and laughs.]

Phil meant to send you a bottle per win - and owes you three now!

JH: Oh, OK, he does, yes! No, I've never heard of it...

Does it make you think when you see drivers crying when something goes wrong in a race? It seems to be something of a new trend that when a mistake is made, or a car hits mechanical trouble, floods of tears appear, but despite all of your bad luck you always maintain a smile and never let the public see you frustration.

JH: Well, it did seem to be a bit of a phase that everybody went through at the end of the year - Mika [Hakkinen] started it. From my point of view, I always put the smile on because I try and keep upbeat. When you keep having bad luck you've got to remain upbeat about it so you can carry on doing a good job.

If the guys from the team who strap you into the car and polish your helmet ever leave... will you give me a ring?!

JH: Err... OK! [laughs]

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© David Cunliffe, 15th November 1999. All rights reserved.