The System 1 stewards’ panels will increase from three to 4 officers at six occasions deemed excessive workload by the FIA, together with the 2025 season opener in Australia, Motorsport.com can reveal.
The change is roofed in Article 15.1 of F1’s 2025 sporting guidelines, which have been overhauled in a number of locations simply earlier than the brand new marketing campaign begins.
F1 stewarding panels have comprised of three officers, one in every of which has lengthy been an ex-racer to assist present the drivers’ perspective when stewards rule on incidents, as nicely one steward on every panel appointed by the nationwide sporting authority (ASN) overseeing every race.
Article 15.1 has been modified to state that “a minimal of three and a most of 4 stewards, one in every of whom can be appointed chairman” can be appointed every race from the holders of an FIA Tremendous Licence (which differs from these earned by F1 drivers).
However Motorsport.com understands the growth will solely apply at six 2025 occasions the FIA considers to be excessive workload, primarily based on earlier races on the tracks involved.
It’s understood that the races in Australia, China, Canada, Singapore, Mexico and Brazil this 12 months will get the four-stewards panel, with the opposite 18 races utilizing the usual three-person panels.
The rule change has been made to extend stewarding capability and sources on the occasions the FIA’s knowledge has prompt would greatest profit.
The change will enable the additional member of the stewards’ panel to carry out preliminary critiques and collate proof to be thought-about after incidents.
However selections will proceed to be made by the total panel – relatively than the additional member having any better authority – and a chairperson will nonetheless be appointed at every race.
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, the remainder of the sector initially
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Pictures
The subject of F1 stewarding continues to be contentious heading into the 2025 marketing campaign.
Final 12 months, there was a lot dialogue amongst drivers and followers concerning the continued use of unpaid volunteers to behave as stewards. They’re solely supplied journey bills to evaluate racing incidents and different actions lined underneath the FIA’s compliance codes.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has stated he’s open to having everlasting stewards however has raised the query as to who ought to pay for them, telling Motorsport.com late in 2024 that “[the drivers] do not need to pay for it”.
McLaren boss Zak Brown stated on the Autosport Enterprise Change in London in January that he could be “blissful if McLaren and all of the racing groups contribute” as “it is so vital for the game” to depart the present method in place for for much longer.
In January the FIA dropped ex-F1 racer Johnny Herbert from its stewarding pool for “incompatible” media punditry concerning the Briton’s dealings with betting corporations, which has additionally elevated give attention to stewards’ actions.
Herbert used his betting platform deal to touch upon selections concerning Max Verstappen that had been made when he acted as a driver steward eventually 12 months’s Mexican Grand Prix, which earned a robust rebuke from the world champion’s camp.
On this article
Alex Kalinauckas
System 1
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