Warwick: F1 Stewards spot on with Verstappen penalty in Spain

Former F1 driver and Le Mans winner Warwick, who will be stewarding at the forthcoming Canadian Grand Prix, weighed in on the saga that became the talking point post-Barcelona: “I can see why Max Verstappen got angry, because I think he thought he was hard done by with Charles [Leclerc] on the straight, and I think he thought he was hard done by George [Russell].

“The team obviously then asked him to give the place back, and he didn't think that was right, and that led to the collision. I think everybody's got to realise that when you're a racing driver and you're used to winning like Max is, it's very difficult when things start going against you in a race that, on paper, with a three-stop, looks like you might win, and we all know he's a winner.

“Should he have done what he did in Turn 5 with George Russell? Absolutely not. Did he get a penalty for it? Yes. He got 10 seconds and three points, which only brings him one point away from a race ban: the 70-year-old Englishman pointed out in an interview with the media team at Plejmo.

As for those calling for a more stringent penalty, Warwick said: “People are arguing that Vettel got a 10-second drive-through in Baku with Lewis Hamilton. But he intentionally drove into Lewis, whereas if you actually look at the video, it looks to me that although he dived in, he then did turn away from George, but the momentum carried him into George.

"I'm not condoning it, I'm not saying it's right, it's absolutely wrong. The FIA quite rightly gave him a penalty," insisted Warwick. "Should it have been harsher? I think they got it about right actually. I think a lot of people would say he should have got a ban as an example to young karters, and they are probably right, but I feel the penalty was spot on. You've got to look at each individual incident on its own merit. I thought it was very questionable. It's not what I like to see."

As for his own future in the 'eagle’s nest', which is the F1 stewards’ room, Warwick revealed: "I’m doing Canada now instead of Enrique, so I think I might be busy. I was the first ever driver steward. I've been doing it for 15 or 16 years.

“This year my first race was in Miami, but I've now got another eight to do. So I'm doing Montreal, Austria, Budapest, Monza, Singapore, Qatar, Abu Dhabi," added Warwick.

Putting aside his officiating hat, Warwick speculated on another ultra-hot topic, namely Verstappen's future beyond 2025: “Obviously, he's talking to every team, but when you say every team, that's only really McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and maybe Aston Martin.

“Aston would be a big gamble, but they do have Adrian Newey there. Mercedes will always be there or thereabouts, although they've had a lean period for them these last three years. If I was Mercedes, would I want to get rid of George or Kimi?

“I think the answer to that is no, but the trouble is when you've got arguably the fastest driver in Formula One knocking on your door, I think he can open most doors. I think the big, big paycheck would come from Aston Martin if that's what he's interested in.

“I think at the end of the day he'll stay at Red Bull," predicted Warwick, who spent a decade in the top flight, making 146 starts during that spell.