The debate over why Formula One does not have full time professional stewards who police the on track action is about to kick off again. Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA have suspended Derick Warwick for making “unauthorised comments” to an online gambling website, Plejmo.
Warwick discussed a number of topics including Max Verstappen’s controversial contact with George Russell at the recent Spanish Grand Prix. “Should he have done what he did, in Turn 5 with George Russell? Absolutely not,” Warwick said of Max Verstappen. “Did he get a penalty for it? Yes. I’m not condoning it, I’m not saying it’s right, it’s absolutely wrong, and the FIA quite rightly gave him a penalty.
“I think they got it about right,” he added. “I think a lot of people would say he should have got a ban as an example to young karters, and they are probably right, but I feel the penalty was spot on. You’ve got to look at each individual incident on their own merit. I thought it was very questionable. It’s not what I like to see.”
Herbert banned from F1 stewards panel
Earlier this year, ex-F1 racer Johnny Herbert was removed from the FIA steward roster following his comments to a gambling website which were critical of Max Verstappen at the 2024 Mexico Grand Prix where he was on the race stewards panel. Verstappen had been handed a draconian 20 second time penalty in the race for two moves made on Lando Norris.
“The right decision was made, the 20-second penalty for Max Verstappen was not harsh”, said Herbert. “Verstappen’s driving style was harsh, especially when he’s taking a fellow driver off the track. It’s an absolute no-no from me, current drivers, former drivers and stewards.
“When Verstappen goes into this horrible mindset of trying to gain an advantage by taking a fellow driver off the race track so Ferrari can get the one-two, that where Verstappen needs to know he doesn’t have to do that. Just win in the cleanest possible way you can.” Herbert added the four man steward panel were unanimous in their view of the appropriate penalty in an attempt to justify what was a controversial decision at the time.
Herbert’s comments came after Verstappen’s father Jos claimed that the FIA risk being accused of a conflict of interest due to the selection of their stewards’ panels on F1 race weekends. Herbert has been a long time critic of the F1 world champion.
Derrick Warwick stood down for Canadian GP
“The FIA should take a good look at the staffing of the stewards, who they put there and whether there is no appearance of a conflict of interest. From former drivers, for example, who have more sympathy for certain drivers or [teams],” said the father of Max Verstappen.
The FIA responded by dropping Herbert from its stewarding panel for 2025 despite him being slated for a number race weekends. In a statement F1’s governing body said Herbert’s “duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible”. The decision was apparently made “with regret” although Herbert was not offered the opportunity to choose between his media activities and his role as driver steward.
Warwick by way of contrast has been suspended just for the Canadian Grand Prix and will return to his duties next time out in Austria. “Following recent unauthorised media comments, the FIA has taken the decision to suspend Derek Warwick from his duties as driver steward for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix,” said the FIA in a statement.
“He will be replaced by Enrique Bernoldi, who will be officiating from the Remote Operations Centre in Geneva for the remainder of the event. 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.”
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FIA president pleads poverty over full time stewards
The fact no driver steward will be present in Montreal is somewhat surprising, yet in its haste to act against Warwick, the FIA have revealed there is the potential for race stewards to perform their duties from a remote location.
Inconsistent decisions from the stewards office led to calls from the F1 drivers for professional full time stewards but they were met with a stern response from Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA president. “So I do feel, again a personal view, not one of on behalf of the drivers, but personal view, I do think we’re at a point now in this sport that we do need a full-time professional steward where they earn a real salary.”
Yet Ben Sulayem was scathing when it came to the matter of remuneration, pleasing poverty on behalf of the FIA. “They talk and then they say, ‘where are you putting the money? Why we don’t do this?’ But I don’t say, ‘oh, sorry, what about you?’ The drivers are getting over $100 million. Do I ask where they spend it? No, it’s up to them. It’s their right.”
Remote F1 stewards to save costs
Ben Sulayem has been accused of running an FIA which is lacking in transparency in that no account of the cost of the current stewarding grace and favour system is unknown. A simple cost/benefit analysis would reveal the true extent of the cost of full time stewards, yet the FIA as yet has failed to offer this information.
“So please, it’s not only me saying it is none of their business. We do whatever we do with our money. It’s our business. It’s also [the same] with them and their money. It’s their business,” concluded the FIA president.
To reduce costs, two of the four full time race day stewards could be based in Geneva at the FIA’s Remote operation centre to reduce costs of transportation and accommodation. The matter may well be resolved under the new “Concorde Agreement” where currently only the FIA are yet to sign the document which regulates the relationship between the teams, F1 and the FIA.
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