Former Formula 1 driver Derek Warwick has been suspended from his role as driver steward after “unauthorised” media comments made in the wake of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Warwick, who was due to reprise his role for this weekend’s race in Canada, made remarks to a betting website regarding Max Verstappen’s penalty for clashing with George Russell at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The sport’s governing body has clamped down on the issue immediately, and has acted swiftly in the hope it will rebuff any accusations of bias made by its employees.
Warwick will only miss one race and will return in Austria in two weeks’ time, his role being filled by another ex-F1 driver, in the shape of former Arrows man Enrique Bernoldi.
An FIA statement read: “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.
“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.”
Warwick’s actions see him become the second driver to land himself in hot water with his employers, after former driver steward Johnny Herbert was stripped of his role prior to the start of the season for an array of interviews with similar websites.
Herbert was accused of bias against Verstappen in comments he gave, and was engaged in a public spat with Verstappen’s father Jos.
The incident proved to ensure Herbert’s position untenable, and he was removed from his post just days before the opening race in Australia.
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