In an unexpected twist leading up to the Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA has decided to suspend Derek Warwick from his role as an FIA steward. This comes after Warwick conducted an interview with a gambling platform, voicing opinions about several prominent F1 drivers, which the FIA deemed “unauthorized.”
Derek Warwick, an ex-F1 driver turned steward, recently found himself in hot water following a controversial interview. Warwick, who last officiated at the Miami Grand Prix, spoke candidly on a gambling platform about F1’s current stars, including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Yuki Tsunoda. His remarks have now led to his suspension from the Canadian Grand Prix.
The situation is reminiscent of Johnny Herbert’s earlier removal from the FIA steward role due to similar conflicts of interest involving his punditry work. In a formal statement, the FIA described Warwick’s media comments as unauthorized, a clear breach of conduct for someone in his position. Stepping in for him at the Canadian Grand Prix will be Enrique Bernoldi, operating from the Remote Operations Centre in Geneva.
Warwick’s comments included saying that Hamilton “deserves” an eighth world title, a nod to the contentious finish of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Furthermore, he suggested Hamilton might be considering retirement due to a challenging start with Ferrari. Warwick didn’t stop there, labeling Yuki Tsunoda as a “disaster” for Red Bull and criticizing the team for dropping Sergio Perez. He also discussed Verstappen’s penalties following his incident with George Russell in Spain.
Acknowledging the backlash, Warwick admitted his comments were ill-advised given his steward role and has since apologized. His return is expected at the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix. Interview guidelines for stewards have reportedly remained unchanged since 2024, indicating that such expectations were clear to Warwick beforehand.
The fallout from Warwick’s comments serves as a stark reminder of the fine line stewards must navigate in their public communications. As the Canadian Grand Prix approaches, the focus will now shift back to the track, where the drivers’ performances will take center stage once more.
