Russell backs one-race steward ban for Warwick, anything more “a bit OTT”  

Mercedes driver George Russell defended the right of suspended FIA steward Derek Warwick to speak to the media and insisted anything more than a one-race ban for his recent comments would have been “OTT.”

Warwick was temporarily relieved of his duties for this weekend’s Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix after a number of controversial media interviews.

The 70-year-old, who has four grand prix podiums, was due to serve as one of the stewards in Montreal but will now sit out the weekend after the FIA decided to suspend Warwick.

In previous days, quotes attributed to Warwick circulated by a gambling firm were picked up by a number of websites and criticised several current drivers, including Lando Norris, Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda.

He also spoke about Max Verstappen crashing into Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, where the stewards – which did not include Warwick – doled out a 10-place penalty and three penalty points to the reigning world champion.

“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,” an FIA statement read.

Derek Warwick shakes hands with George Russell, Mercedes AMG

Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

“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.”

Russell was asked about Warwick’s position by Autosport during the post-qualifying press conference in Canada, where the Mercedes man claimed a stunning pole position.

“We're obviously all open to have our own views,” he said. “And I think what Derek said, I don't think it probably offended anybody, hence why we're going to see him back. And principally, I think, these days every word you say gets scrutinised.

“That's just the nature of the game we're in. So, we also have to remember the stewards are volunteers. They don't make an income from stewarding.

“They have a life outside of Formula 1 as well. We all speak to media in the paddock. So, if it was anything more than his sort of temporary, I don't want to say ban, but his temporary avoidance of stewarding this weekend, I think anything more than that would have been a bit OTT.”

It was a different story for Johnny Herbert, who was permanently dropped from stewarding at the start of the year for similar reasons.