Breaking:FIA Steward Delivers Final Verdict on Verstappen Penalty Ahead of C…read more
An FIA steward who will be present at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, has given his verdict on a controversial issue involving Max Verstappen.
A key FIA steward set to officiate at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix has weighed in on the controversial penalty handed to Max Verstappen at the previous Formula 1 round in Barcelona. Derek Warwick, a former F1 driver and veteran steward, offered his perspective on the incident involving Verstappen and Mercedes driver George Russell, which has sparked ongoing debate within the paddock and among fans.
Verstappen was penalized with a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points on his license following a series of heated on-track moments during the Spanish Grand Prix. Two of these incidents involved direct contact with Russell, reviving an already tense rivalry between the two.
The most contentious clash occurred at Turn 1, where Verstappen and Russell touched wheels in a battle for position. Initially, Verstappen was told to yield the place to Russell, but he refused, arguing: “No, I was ahead… he just ran me off the road.” However, after reviewing the footage and circumstances, the FIA later ruled that Verstappen was not required to return the position, which further fueled the debate on the fairness of the penalty.
In an interview with Plejmo, Warwick acknowledged Verstappen’s frustration, explaining: “I can see why Max got upset. He felt hard done by with Charles Leclerc earlier on the straight and again with George. When the team told him to give the place back, he didn’t think it was fair, and that led to what happened later in the lap.”
Warwick, who competed in F1 between 1981 and 1993, offered a seasoned perspective on the situation, suggesting that Verstappen’s recent dip in dominance may be affecting his mindset. “When you’re used to winning like Max is, and then suddenly races you expect to win don’t go your way, that pressure can build up,” he noted. “It’s a different kind of frustration when you’re no longer clearly ahead of the pack.”
Turning to the specifics of the Turn 5 collision with Russell, Warwick was clear in his criticism: “Should he have done what he did there? Absolutely not. But he got a 10-second penalty and three points, which puts him just one point away from a race ban.”
Warwick also addressed comparisons to past incidents, including Sebastian Vettel’s infamous collision with Lewis Hamilton in Baku, for which Vettel received a harsher 10-second drive-through penalty. “People will point to that and say Verstappen got off lightly,” Warwick admitted. “But if you study the video, Max did try to avoid contact after diving in. The move was reckless, but it wasn’t as blatant as some make it out to be.”
Importantly, he defended the FIA’s response, stating: “I think they got it about right. There’s a case to be made that the penalty could’ve been harsher to set an example, especially for younger drivers watching, but each incident needs to be judged on its own merits.”
With Verstappen now sitting precariously on 11 penalty points—just one shy of the 12-point threshold for a race ban—Warwick’s role at the Canadian Grand Prix gains added significance. The 70-year-old steward confirmed he will be stepping in for Enrique Bernoldi this weekend and will serve on the FIA’s officiating panel for several key races this season, including Montreal, Austria, Budapest, Monza, and Abu Dhabi.
“I was the first ever driver steward,” Warwick said. “I’ve been doing this for 15 or 16 years now. I started this season in Miami, and I’ve got eight more races to go.”
As a senior figure in the stewarding panel, Warwick’s presence in Canada adds weight to the FIA’s ongoing efforts to ensure fair and consistent rulings on-track. With Verstappen walking a disciplinary tightrope, all eyes will be on the reigning world champion in Montreal—not just for his performance, but for his ability to keep his composure under pressure.
About The Author
