The people shaping FIA’s 2026 driver representative steward program

The 2026 Driver Steward framework

The FIA implements a new framework for the 2026 season that increases the influence of Driver Stewards when guidelines lack clarity. Each race weekend features four stewards, and one of these officials is a former driver. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Pedro Lamy, and Derek Warwick comprise the 2026 Driver Steward group. This shift follows driver requests for more racing knowledge in judging incidents. George Russell, the Mercedes driver and GPDA president, requested that the best racing knowledge judge incidents based on experience. The FIA maintains a rotating system for stewards to avoid bias. The federation also considers paying stewards a fixed salary to attract former drivers who currently prefer media roles. You already know the friction between drivers and the rulebook, so focus on the personnel changes.

The FIA rejects permanent steward appointments because past experience showed they create bias. The federation prefers the rotation system to continue into 2026. The Driver Stewards will have greater influence when guidelines offer no clear answer or when unique circumstances apply. This change aims to move away from a purely literal interpretation of the rules. Some weekends will include a fifth steward from the FIA High Performance steward-training programme. These trainees provide support to the regular panel and gain experience in real-world decision-making.

The racing career of Derek Warwick

Derek Warwick competed in Formula One from 1981 to 1993. He drove for Toleman, Renault, Brabham, Arrows, Lotus, and Footwork. He achieved four podiums and 71 career points during his 162 entries. In 1992, he won the World Sportscar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot. His career in F1 included second-place finishes at the 1984 Belgian and British Grands Prix for Renault.

Warwick began his Formula One career with Toleman for the 1981 season. He managed to qualify for only one race that year at the season finale in Las Vegas. His 1984 season with Renault followed Alain Prost’s departure from the team. Warwick led the Brazilian Grand Prix during his first drive for Renault, but a suspension failure caused him to retire. He finished seventh in the championship that year. In 1985, he rejected an offer to drive for Williams-Honda and chose to stay at Renault. Nigel Mansell took the Williams seat and won two races that season. Renault withdrew from Formula One at the end of 1985.

After the death of Elio de Angelis in a testing accident, Warwick took his place at Brabham in 1986. He moved to Arrows in 1987 and 1988. In 1988, he finished eighth in the championship with 17 points. He finished fourth in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza that year. In 1989, Warwick drove for Arrows again. He led the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, but his Ford V8 engine failed on lap 40 while he was in second place. Reliability issues caused him to score only seven points that season.

Warwick drove for Lotus in 1990 using a Lamborghini V12 engine. He described the car as all noise and no go. He also experienced a crash at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza when his Lotus 102 drifted wide and flipped on its side. He returned to Formula One in 1993 with Footwork. He finished his career with a total of 71 Grand Prix points.

The suspension of Derek Warwick

The FIA suspended Derek Warwick during the Canadian Grand Prix following unauthorized media comments. Warwick made remarks to a gambling publication regarding Max Verstappen’s penalty for contact with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. He described the penalty as the "perfect" punishment and stated that Verstappen was "absolutely wrong" in the contact. The FIA determined that his comments were ill-advised in his role as a steward. The decision to replace Warwick with Enrique Bernoldi during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend followed discussions where the governing body determined that the veteran driver’s media comments regarding Max Verstappen’s penalty were ill-advised and unauthorized.

Warwick apologized for his comments after discussions with the FIA. He intended to resume his duties as a steward at the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix. His replacement, Enrique Bernoldi, officiated from the Remote Operations Centre in Geneva for the remainder of the Canadian event. The FIA acted quickly to rebuff accusations of bias. This incident occurred while Max Verstappen was one penalty point away from a race ban.

The FIA management of steward media work remains inconsistent and messy.

The departure of Johnny Herbert

The FIA removed Johnny Herbert from his role as a driver steward in January. The governing body cited his media punditry work as incompatible with his stewarding duties. Herbert provided several interviews to gambling sites at the end of the 2024 season. He made comments regarding high-profile decisions he participated in as a steward. He also had a public argument with Jos Verstappen after a penalty was issued in Mexico City.

The FIA determined that Herbert could no longer maintain impartiality. He was accused of bias against Verstappen in his comments. This removal occurred just days before the opening race in Australia. The FIA stated it made the decision with regret. Both Warwick and Herbert faced similar scrutiny regarding their media presence and their roles as stewards.

The professional background of Vincenzo Spano

Vincenzo Spano holds the position of President of the Sporting Commission of the Automobile and Touring Club of Venezuela. He graduated as an attorney from the Central University of Venezuela. He worked for the Venezuelan automobile club and became President of the Sporting Commission in 2001.

Spano secured an FIA superlicence for stewarding in 2003 after gaining experience in racing and stewarding at international and club levels. He participates in several FIA bodies. He is a member of the World Motorsport Council, the FIA Institute, and the FIA Committee. His career in Venezuela involves high-level administration within the sport.

The FIA training and salary models

The FIA operates a High Performance steward-training programme to develop talent. The curriculum includes technical education, situational training, regulatory knowledge, and strategic decision-making. Participants engage in immersive learning at FIA events like Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship. The programme uses mentorship and observation to help participants learn from experienced officials. Recent cohorts include participants from five continents and equal gender representation.

The FIA considers paying stewards a fixed salary to attract former drivers. Currently, stewards receive only a small expense allowance. This model is unusual compared to other top-tier sports. Providing salaries could encourage more former drivers to accept the role instead of choosing media careers. The FIA remains opposed to permanent steward appointments to avoid potential bias. The federation prefers the rotation system to continue for the 2026 season.

The career statistics of Derek Warwick

Warwick earned his reputation through various racing disciplines. He won the 1978 British Formula Three Championship. In 1992, he won the World Sportscar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Peugeot team. He also raced sports cars for Jaguar in 1986 and 1991. In the British Touring Car Championship, he drove for the Alfa Romeo works team in 1995. He co-founded Triple Eight Racing and managed the works Vauxhall entry. He won a wet race at Knockhill in 1998.

The 2026 championship context

The 2026 season follows a period of significant driver movement and regulatory changes. Valtteri Bottas serves a five-place grid penalty at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. He received this penalty after a collision with Kevin Magnussen at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 455 days between the penalty and the service highlight the time gaps in current regulations. The change in regulations for 2026 aims to avoid such anomalous situations in the future.

The current driver standings show a tight competition at the top of the table. George Russell leads the championship with 51 points. Andrea Kimi Antonelli holds the second position with 47 points. Charles Leclerc follows in third with 34 points. Lewis Hamilton holds 33 points. Lando Norris has 15 points, and Max Verstappen has 8 points.

Will the increased influence of the Driver Steward resolve the ongoing disputes regarding the rigidity of the rulebook?