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A Formula One steward has been suspended from his role ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix after making 'unauthorised' comments in the media.
Derek Warwick, the former F1 driver, has been stood down for the race after delivering his verdict on an incident between Max Verstappen and George Russell.
Last week, Warwick, 70, insisted the 10-second penalty given to Verstappen after he collided with Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix was 'right'.
Speaking to a gambling website, he said: 'Should [Verstappen] have done what he did with George Russell in Turn 5? Absolutely not. Did he get a penalty for it? Yes.
'Some people argue that Sebastian Vettel received a 10-second drive-through penalty in Baku [in 2017] when he deliberately drove into Lewis Hamilton.
'But if you look at the video of Max, it looks to me like he dived in but then turned away from George – the momentum just carried him into him.'
A key FIA figure has been suspended for giving his 'unauthorised' comments on Max Verstappen's dramatic collision with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix
Steward Derek Warwick has been stood down for the Canadian Grand Prix
Warwick told a gambling website that the penalty given to Verstappen for the crash was 'right'
Warwick then added: 'I'm not condoning it, I'm not saying it was right. It was absolutely wrong. The FIA rightly gave him a penalty. Should it have been harsher? I actually think they got it about right.
'Many would say he should have received a race ban as a deterrent for young karting drivers, and they're probably right.'
A statement from the FIA read: '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.'
A former F1 driver is always one of the four stewards officiating at every grand prix and Warwick, a winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, is one of the most senior officials.
Warwick also gave his opinion on the struggles of Red Bull's second drivers and on Lewis Hamilton's difficult first season at Ferrari, saying his woes were an 'enigma'.
Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle leapt to Warwick's defence on Saturday, writing on social media: 'Derek Warwick is one of the most genuine and passionate people and racers I have ever known. He is a salt of the earth genuine guy.
'He's done so much for young racers and motorsport in general. Not least as an FIA Steward. He has my absolute support and friendship until my last breath.'
Warwick is one of the most senior FIA stewards and raced in F1 between 1981 and 1993
Johnny Herbert was similarly dropped by the FIA after publicly commenting on a race
Warwick has been temporarily replaced by Enrique Bernoldi in Canada, who will officiate from the FIA's remote operations centre in Geneva this weekend.
He is the second steward to be punished by the FIA for publicly commenting on a race. Johnny Herbert was dropped in January after the governing body said his 'duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible'.
The FIA refuse to comment on how stewards arrive at decisions during a grand prix on the basis that the officials are 'independent' from the organisation.
