The FIA’s stewarding system has been criticized for inconsistent rulings on race incidents, leading to frustration among teams, drivers, and fans.
1. US Grand Prix Controversy
A recent example of this issue occurred at the 2024 United States Grand Prix, where Lando Norris was given a time penalty that ultimately dropped him to fourth place, allowing Max Verstappen to finish ahead of him. Many within the paddock questioned the severity of the penalty, especially when similar incidents in past races had not resulted in the same punishment.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, openly criticized the FIA and even hinted at possible bias among some stewards. This reignited discussions about whether the sport needs a more standardized officiating approach.
2. Changing Steward Panels
One key issue is that Formula 1 does not have a permanent stewarding team Instead, a rotating group of different stewards officiates each race, leading to varying interpretations of the rules. This means a driver penalized for a particular incident in one race may see a similar move go unpunished in another.
Drivers and teams have repeatedly called for more uniformity, with some suggesting a fixed panel of experienced stewards for every race to ensure consistent rulings.
3. FIA’s Response
The FIA has acknowledged the concerns but has not committed to major changes. While the governing body claims to review decisions for fairness, the lack of transparency in how penalties are assigned remains a major talking point.
Until F1 establishes clearer, more predictable stewarding rules, controversies surrounding penalty inconsistencies and perceived bias are likely to continue.