Chaos in Canada: FIA Shocks F1 World with Suspension After George Russell p… read more
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has concluded its investigation into Mercedes driver George Russell following an incident during Free Practice 2 at the Canadian Grand Prix, issuing only a formal warning to the British driver. At the same time, the FIA made headlines by suspending senior steward Derek Warwick from this weekend’s event after controversial media comments.
Russell, who finished Friday’s second practice session fastest with a time of 1:12.323, was summoned by race stewards after failing to follow a specific instruction outlined in the event notes provided by the Race Director. The rule in question—item 17.3—requires drivers who leave the track at Turn 13 or Turn 14 to keep left of the designated orange kerb and re-enter the circuit through the run-off area on the inside of Turn 14.
During the session, Russell went off track at Turn 14 shortly after exiting the pit lane on a fresh set of tyres. Rather than following the designated re-entry route, he crossed the orange kerb line, rejoining the circuit improperly. However, he did not gain an advantage nor did his maneuver compromise the safety of any other driver.
Speaking with the stewards, Russell acknowledged the mistake and explained that his primary concern was avoiding a collision with the wall after losing control under braking. The FIA accepted this reasoning and cited the fact that similar infractions during previous events had not been penalized. As such, the stewards issued a formal warning, avoiding any fines, grid drops, or penalty points.
The stewards note that the driver admitted his mistake, acted with caution, and did not pose a safety risk,” the FIA statement read. “In light of previous precedents and the context of the incident, a warning is deemed sufficient.”
While the Russell incident was relatively straightforward, the FIA’s disciplinary actions extended beyond the track this weekend. Veteran FIA steward Derek Warwick was suspended from his role at the Canadian Grand Prix after giving an unauthorized interview to a betting-affiliated media outlet, during which he discussed recent F1 disciplinary decisions.
In the interview, Warwick made public comments regarding Lewis Hamilton’s pending move to Ferrari and Max Verstappen’s penalty at the Spanish Grand Prix—topics considered sensitive and inappropriate for an acting steward to comment on. The FIA deemed the remarks “ill-advised and in violation of internal communication protocols.”
As a result, Warwick was removed from his position for the remainder of the Montreal race weekend. He has since issued a formal apology to the FIA. Former Formula 1 driver Enrique Bernoldi has been brought in to replace Warwick and will perform stewarding duties remotely from the FIA’s Geneva operations center. Warwick is expected to return to his duties at the Austrian Grand Prix.
These developments highlight the FIA’s ongoing commitment to fairness, consistency, and accountability, both in terms of enforcing track regulations and maintaining professional standards among its officials.
Russell, for his part, will now focus on qualifying and Sunday’s race, relieved to avoid any major penalties as Mercedes continues their pursuit of podium finishes in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
