A popular driver, Johnny Herbert is one of F1's journey-men who has had a mixed run of results and fortune in an F1 career that stretches back to 1989.
He first raced in F1 for Benetton in 1989 when he still had not fully recovered from serious leg injuries sustained in a massive F3000 crash at Brands Hatch in 1988. Partly as a result of those injuries, he lost his drive and drifted to Tyrell before joining Lotus at the end of the 1990 season for a couple of races.
He secured the permanent drive in late 1991 and remained with the team until the closing stages of the 1994 season when it was clear that the once famous team was on its last legs. For the European GP, Herbert jumped to Ligier for a single race and then Benetton for the final two races of the 1995 season. He then held the drive for 1996 alongside World Champion Michael Schumacher and, despite being firmly relegated to second choice in the team, it proved to be his most successful season.
He won his first GP at Silverstone and then his second at Monza, eventually finishing 4th in the Drivers Championship. Unfortunately his results were not good enough for him to retain his seat with Benetton. A move to the Sauber team followed but it was an unsuccessful two seasons with a poor car and personal tension between him and his teammate Jean Alesi. Herbert signed with the Stewart team for the 1999 season.