FIA steward breaks silence on Max Verstappen punishment after ...

FIA steward breaks silence on Max Verstappen punishment after …read more

FIA steward Derek Warwick has spoken out for the first time about the incident involving Max Verstappen and George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, declaring that the Red Bull driver was “absolutely wrong” in his actions. Warwick, a veteran of Formula 1 and current FIA official, offered insight into the decision-making process that led to Verstappen receiving a time penalty, which some critics felt was too lenient.

The clash between Verstappen and Russell occurred in the final stages of the race, which had already been tense and dramatic. Verstappen, frustrated after a strategic misstep and team orders, was asked by Red Bull to surrender his position to Russell after cutting the track at Turn 1 to stay ahead. Though Verstappen did slow down to allow Russell through before Turn 5, he quickly accelerated and made firm contact with the Mercedes driver, sparking a wave of backlash.

The stewards reviewed the incident and issued a 10-second time penalty to Verstappen, which resulted in him dropping from fifth to tenth place in the final standings. Additionally, he was slapped with three penalty points, pushing the four-time World Champion close to a one-race suspension threshold.

Warwick, who had a lengthy F1 career between 1981 and 1993 and also claimed victory at the 1992 Le Mans 24 Hours, has served as a steward at numerous Grands Prix. Despite his senior role within the FIA, he openly commented on the controversial incident during an interview with Plejmo, standing by the penalty decision while acknowledging Verstappen’s wrongdoing.

“People need to understand that when you’re a top-tier driver like Max, someone who is used to winning, it’s very hard to accept when a race doesn’t go your way—especially one that, on paper, looked very winnable despite a three-stop strategy,” Warwick explained. “Max is a competitor through and through.”

When asked directly whether Verstappen’s move on Russell was acceptable, Warwick was clear in his assessment. “Should he have done what he did at Turn 5? Absolutely not. And he was penalized accordingly.”

He compared the incident to Sebastian Vettel’s infamous 2017 clash with Lewis Hamilton in Baku, where Vettel deliberately drove into the Mercedes during a safety car period and received a 10-second stop-go penalty. “In Max’s case,” Warwick said, “it appears that while he did dive into the corner aggressively, there was a moment where he seemed to steer away from George, but momentum carried him into the Mercedes. It was wrong, no doubt, and deserved a penalty.”

Calls for a harsher punishment, including disqualification, came from several figures in the paddock, including 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg, who felt that Verstappen should have been suspended to set an example. However, Warwick pushed back on that suggestion, saying the 10-second time penalty was an appropriate and balanced response.

“I think the penalty was perfect,” Warwick said. “Every incident needs to be judged on its own merit. You can’t apply a blanket rule across every scenario. While I understand the argument that a harsher penalty might send a message to younger drivers, we also need to be proportionate.”

He concluded by expressing disappointment in the behavior but reiterated the importance of context. “This isn’t the kind of driving we want to see, especially from a world-class talent like Max. But I think we made the right call. The penalty matched the incident.”

As the debate continues within the F1 community, Warwick’s comments offer a behind-the-scenes perspective into how the stewards view high-stakes decisions, particularly when it involves one of the sport’s most high-profile figures.