The FIA has suspended veteran steward and former Formula 1 driver Derek Warwick from officiating at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, following what it described as “unauthorised media comments” made in the wake of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Warwick, a well-respected figure in motorsport and a key steward with years of experience, will be replaced by former F1 driver Enrique Bernoldi. The Brazilian will officiate remotely from the FIA’s Geneva operations centre for the remainder of the Montreal event.
In a brief statement, the FIA confirmed: “After discussion, Derek acknowledges that his comments were ill-advised in his role as an FIA steward and has apologised. Derek will resume his duties as a steward in the forthcoming Austrian Grand Prix.”
The remarks in question stem from an interview Warwick gave to a gambling website, where he offered his opinion on the penalty issued to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the recent Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen had been penalised for what was deemed a deliberate collision with Mercedes’ George Russell at Turn 5 during the race in Barcelona.
Warwick was quoted as saying: “Should he have done what he did, in Turn Five with George Russell? Not. Did he get a penalty for that? Yes. It seems to me that, although he dove in, he then turned away from George, but momentum pushed him against George. It is wrong, and the FIA was right to give him a penalty.”
These comments, though measured and supportive of the FIA’s ruling, appear to have breached the strict guidelines stewards must follow regarding public commentary. The FIA maintains that stewards are independent, and it does not publicly explain decisions during or after a race weekend to protect the integrity of that independence.
Warwick’s suspension marks the second high-profile case in six months where a driver steward has faced repercussions for media activity. In January, fellow former driver Johnny Herbert was removed from his stewarding role over what the FIA termed an “incompatibility” between his duties as a media pundit and an FIA official.
While the FIA insists Warwick’s case is isolated, the timing of the suspension has sparked broader concerns among critics of the current FIA leadership, particularly under president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The decision comes just a day after controversial governance changes were ratified by the FIA’s general assembly, prompting accusations of increasing opacity and centralised power.
Several figures in the F1 paddock and the wider motorsport community have raised concerns that the FIA’s actions undermine transparency and restrict the ability of officials and experts to communicate decisions effectively with fans and media.
Ben Sulayem, who assumed office in 2021, has faced persistent scrutiny for what some regard as a pattern of reducing oversight, weakening independent decision-making, and consolidating executive control. These recent events are seen by some as further erosion of the FIA’s commitment to openness and accountability.
Despite the criticism, the FIA remains firm in its stance that stewards must remain impartial and avoid any form of public comment that could be perceived as bias or pre-judgment, even when their views align with the official outcome of a case.
Warwick, who raced in Formula 1 from 1981 to 1992 and is a former president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, has long been one of the sport’s most experienced and respected driver stewards. He also won the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours and has played a key role in stewarding F1 races for over a decade.
His return to stewarding duties at the Austrian Grand Prix is expected, but the episode has once again placed the FIA’s internal culture and media policy under a very public microscope.
