Johnny Herbert was axed as an FIA steward before the new F1 season because of his media work yet Derek Warwick, who will be a steward at the Canadian Grand Prix, is involved in a similar scheme
In a period when routinely, on social media, accusations of bias in Formula 1 are slung around with abandon, the FIA really isn’t helping itself. On the face of it, the appointment of Derek Warwick as one of the stewards on duty at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix is a normal, entirely uninteresting decision.
He’s more than qualified for the role. Warwick is a veteran of 147 F1 race starts from his own racing career and has been a regular driver steward for many years now. Aged 70, the Brit is one of the most respected people in the F1 paddock whenever he pays a visit.
But something has changed in recent times which should raise questions over whether he remains a viable candidate for a stewarding role – his latest media work. Specifically, Warwick is involved with a PR company which supplies quotes from famous names with credit to various gambling companies.
One such set of quotes, attributed to Warwick, was sent around this week. In it, he opined that Lando Norris needs to stop making “silly mistakes” if he is to beat Oscar Piastri to the title, claimed Lance Stroll is a better driver than people give him credit for and said Yuki Tsunoda has “had a disaster” since joining the main Red Bull team.
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In another email, sent earlier this week, quotes attributed to Warwick said Max Verstappen was “absolutely wrong” to drive into George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix and that people are “probably right” to suggest that the Dutchman should have been suspended for his actions.
Of course, he is entitled to all of those opinions as a person and many will agree with him on some of those topics. But should he be sharing them in public, given he has the power in his hands when on duty as an FIA steward to hand out punishments to drivers for their actions on track – penalties that could be called into doubt based on his personal views?
Well, based on the FIA’s own example, he shouldn’t. While Warwick remains an active F1 steward, having last served at the Miami Grand Prix in May and been selected for this weekend’s event in Montreal, Johnny Herbert was cut from the governing body’s pool in January.
Explaining that decision at the time, the FIA said Herbert is “is widely respected and brought invaluable experience and expertise to his role… [but] his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible”. Warwick too is widely respected and vastly experienced, but why is he allowed to continue to work in the role?
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To be clear, there is no reason whatsoever to suggest that Warwick or any active FIA steward would allow their personal opinions to affect their decision making. But the problem is that some people WILL make that accusation and, when an active steward is out there publicly criticising drivers, it’s not a good look.
Verstappen is one penalty point away from a race ban heading into this weekend’s Montreal race. If Warwick is on the stewarding panel which hands him the punishment which triggers that ban, you can easily imagine what the reaction will be from fans of the Dutchman and of Red Bull – perhaps even the driver and team themselves. And it will be a problem for the FIA entirely of its own making.
