Warwick to Return at Austrian Grand Prix Following Suspension

MONTREAL: Derek Warwick, a former racer, was temporarily relieved of his duties as a steward at the Canadian Grand Prix by the FIA, Formula One’s governing body. This action was taken due to unauthorized comments made to the media concerning current drivers, according to international reports released on Friday.

The FIA’s decision, according to reports, stemmed from Warwick’s remarks on a betting platform regarding incidents that occurred during the Spanish Grand Prix. These comments were deemed unauthorized by the FIA.

Reports indicated that Warwick had previously commented on the penalty imposed on Max Verstappen of Red Bull during the Spanish Grand Prix.

The FIA formally announced the suspension in a statement:

“The FIA has chosen to suspend Derek Warwick from his position as a driver steward for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix due to recent unauthorized media statements,” the statement read.

Enrique Bernoldi will take Warwick’s place and carry out his responsibilities from the remote operations center located in Geneva for the duration of the event, the FIA added.

Warwick has admitted that his remarks were inappropriate given his position as an FIA steward. He has issued an apology and is scheduled to go back to his responsibilities at the next Austrian Grand Prix.

The statement further noted, “Following deliberation, Derek understands that his remarks were imprudent in his capacity as an FIA steward, and he has expressed regret. At the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, Derek will resume his duties as a steward.”

It is worth mentioning that Warwick is the second steward this year to be removed for making unauthorized statements. Johnny Herbert faced a similar situation in January due to comments he made while working as a media analyst.