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FIA’s Broken Stewardship System: Can New Reforms Fix the F1 Officiating Chaos?

Publisher by Publisher
January 24, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Italian Grand Prix - Circuit of Monza, Monza, Italy - August 30, 2018 General view of the FiA logo REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/

For years, Formula 1 fans and teams have been caught in a whirlwind of inconsistent stewarding that has left drivers scratching their helmets and fans screaming at their screens. From penalties that feel like a coin toss to race rulings that spark more controversy than clarity, the cracks in F1’s officiating system have been painfully clear. But now, in a dramatic shake-up, the FIA is finally tackling the issue head-on with a sweeping reform that could revolutionize how F1 is judged—forever.


The chaos of inconsistency

Until now, stewarding in Formula 1 has operated like a rotating cast of amateurs. A group of stewards—different for every single race—delivers judgment on incidents, often with wildly varying interpretations. The result? Penalties that are as unpredictable as the weather at Spa.

To make matters worse, these stewards are mostly volunteers. That’s right—volunteers deciding the fate of multi-million-dollar races. Often, they receive little more than a nominal fee to cover expenses, leaving critical decisions in the hands of part-time officials with limited resources. The inconsistency has left teams and drivers frustrated, fans bewildered, and the sport’s reputation on the line.


A bold new era: Enter the FIA Officials Department

Recognizing the shambles, the FIA launched its groundbreaking Officials Department in September 2024, a move aimed at professionalizing the sport’s officiating standards. Spearheading this initiative is Matteo Perini, the FIA’s Sport Officials Manager, tasked with building a robust talent pipeline of stewards, race directors, and officials.

This is more than just a rebrand. Nicolas Tombazis, the FIA’s head of single-seater racing, explained that this department is the cornerstone of the FIA’s future vision. “It’s probably getting a bit unfair to just rely on people to do it out of their good heart, and that’s what we have now,” Tombazis admitted in a recent interview with Motorsport.com.

The goal? A professional officiating body that doesn’t just show up on race weekends but dives into deep post-race analysis. “We want a body that can spend the Monday morning after a race analyzing every single decision, making sure it was reached correctly, seeing what could be improved,” Tombazis said.


Revolutionizing race oversight

This shift isn’t just about staffing. A powerful remote monitoring center will soon oversee races in real time, analyzing incidents with cutting-edge technology and ensuring consistency in rulings. This centralized system promises to end the era of on-the-fly judgments and fragmented communication.

But it’s not all about reinventing the wheel. Tombazis emphasized that the current stewards—many with decades of experience—will remain valued contributors to the sport. “Just to be clear, that’s without taking anything away from the group we have now, which is very experienced and has been serving for 20 years,” he added.


A talent crisis at the core

Despite the promise of these reforms, the FIA faces an uphill battle in addressing its talent shortage. The problem hit home when Niels Wittich stepped down as F1 race director in November 2024, prompting a scramble to replace him with Rui Marques, previously the race director for Formula 2 and Formula 3. Marques has now taken over for F1 duties starting with the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Even with existing initiatives like the High-Performance Steward Programme, which has trained around 30 promising officials from various regions, Tombazis acknowledges there’s still a long way to go. “There’s a feeling that it must step even further,” he said. “It must be a proper department that leads these matters.”


Can the FIA’s reforms save F1 officiating?

The FIA’s effort to professionalize its officiating structure marks a seismic shift in Formula 1’s governance. However, transforming a broken system won’t happen overnight. With a new department, advanced monitoring systems, and a focus on training future talent, the changes could usher in an era of fairness and consistency.

Yet, the stakes are high. With every questionable call, the FIA risks alienating its fanbase and eroding trust in the sport. Only time will tell if this overhaul will restore credibility or if F1 will continue to battle its greatest nemesis: itself.

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