Martin Brundle Shares Support for Suspended FIA Steward

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Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle issued a resounding statement of support for a suspended FIA steward.

Brundle, a former Formula 1 driver, commented on the suspension of Derek Warwick, who was not allowed to work at the Canadian Grand Prix.

In response to the suspension announcement, Brundle comments on X (formerly Twitter):

"Derek Warwick is one of the most genuine and passionate people and racers I have ever known," Brundle wrote.

"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."

Brundle's statement excludes any comment on what Warwick did to merit the suspension, but instead focuses on the character of the steward.

The FIA suspended Warwick for making comments about drivers on the grid publicly, specifically Max Verstappen's Spanish Grand Prix penalty.

Also, his comments were not published by an established media outlet, but rather provided by a PR agency.

The agency offers Warwick's comments to publishers in exchange for the credit going to a gambling company, in this case Plejmo.

Plejmo uses these recognitions as an atypical marketing tool, getting the company's name out on the internet.

Warwick never spoke with Plejmo; instead, he got paid for an interview with the PR company.

After the FIA discovered the nature and source of the public comments, the governing body suspended Warwick for the race in Canada.

"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.

"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."

Another steward was in a similar situation. FIA official Johnny Herbert served as a steward, but he was removed from the role.

Herbert offered quotes to a gambling website, prompting action from the FIA, ruling Herbet's role as media "incompatible" with the role of a race official.

FIA stewards are unpaid volunteers currently, doing the work out of a sense of duty rather than monetary gain.

Given the lack of financial gain in the role, stewards are often left looking for alternative sources of income.