Formula 1 is a multi-billion-dollar sport, yet its race stewards remain unpaid volunteers—a reality that McLaren CEO Zak Brown wants to change immediately.
Brown has thrown his support behind the introduction of full-time, professional FIA stewards, arguing that teams, Formula 1, and the FIA should all contribute financially to ensure better consistency in decision-making.
F1’s officiating crisis: Why Brown wants full-time stewards
Currently, F1’s race stewards are part-time volunteers, only receiving travel expenses to preside over some of the most crucial and controversial decisions in the sport. This system has drawn heavy criticism over the years, with drivers, teams, and fans complaining about inconsistent penalties, unclear rulings, and controversial race outcomes.
Speaking at the Autosport Business Exchange in London, Brown didn’t hold back.
“To have part-time, unpaid stewards in a multi-billion-dollar sport where everything is on the line to make the right call… it doesn’t make sense.
“It is a technical job, and when you get it right, no one says ‘great job.’ But I don’t think we are set up for success by not having full-time stewards.”
Brown argued that the problem isn’t the individuals serving as stewards, but rather the restrictive rulebook and lack of consistency due to part-time officiating.
“I’d like us to take a step back, loosen up the rulebook, and have full-time stewards who can make more subjective decisions.”
Who pays for it? Brown says teams should contribute
One of the biggest hurdles to implementing full-time stewards has been who foots the bill.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem previously stated that while the governing body is open to the idea, the teams don’t want to pay for it.
Brown, however, took the opposite stance.
“This will probably be unpopular among my fellow teams, but I’m happy if McLaren and all the teams contribute. It’s so important for the sport.”
“It can’t be that expensive if everybody contributes. It’s not going to break the bank.”
While acknowledging that the FIA’s contract with F1 might complicate things, Brown believes the costs should be seen as a necessary investment.
“In any business, if you want something different, it’s called a change order, and if you want to change something, you have to pay for it.”
“If it comes back to McLaren where we pay a percentage, along with F1 and the FIA, it’s not that much, but I think it’s that important.”
McLaren’s resurgence: The Brown-Stella partnership that brought a title
McLaren shocked the F1 world last season, winning its first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years, and Brown was quick to credit team principal Andrea Stella for the team’s revival.
Brown revealed that he initially asked Stella to take over as team boss back in 2019, but the Italian turned it down.
“He has very little ego. He’s not one of these individuals who jumps at the chance to be team principal. He just felt he wasn’t ready, even though I felt he was.”
When Brown approached him again in 2022, Stella was still hesitant, needing a weekend to think it over before accepting the role.
“But once he jumped in, he got real serious real quick. He identified that we had big problems, which I suspected—hence the changes.”
The result? A championship-winning McLaren team that is now a serious force in Formula 1 again.
The future of F1 stewarding—and McLaren’s next chapter
With F1’s officiating system under constant scrutiny, Brown’s push for full-time stewards could be the catalyst for long-overdue reforms.
Meanwhile, McLaren’s return to title-winning form signals that the team is back where it belongs—fighting at the front. And with Brown and Stella at the helm, it’s clear McLaren isn’t just here to participate—it’s here to dominate.
