McLaren CEO Zak Brown has reignited calls for the FIA to adopt full-time race stewards for the 2025 Formula 1 season, citing “too many inconsistencies” during the 2024 campaign. His comments come in the wake of contentious decisions that affected high-profile drivers, including Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, and have reignited the debate over the sport’s officiating standards.
Too Many Controversial Moments in 2024
Brown’s frustration stems from incidents like:
- United States Grand Prix: Norris received a five-second penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage, which McLaren disputed vehemently.
- Mexican Grand Prix: Verstappen was penalized twice in one lap, accumulating 20 seconds of penalties.
- Qatar Grand Prix: The stewards issued seven in-race penalties, sparking criticism from drivers like George Russell over unclear communication from race officials.
Russell pointed out that the new Race Director, Rui Marques, failed to indicate stricter enforcement before Qatar, highlighting a lack of predictability in penalty application.
Brown’s Call for Reform
Speaking to Channel 4, Brown was forthright in his critique:
“I think we need to take a step back in the winter. We have too many penalties, we have too many inconsistencies. I think we all recognize we need full-time stewarding. I don’t blame the stewards, but I don’t think they’re set up for success.”
Brown added that the current system overburdens part-time stewards, leaving room for subjective rulings and inconsistency.
Challenges to Full-Time Stewarding
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has previously expressed reluctance to implement full-time stewards, citing budget constraints. Currently, stewards are only reimbursed for expenses, making the prospect of a dedicated team financially challenging.
However, Brown’s comments align with those of Russell, who argued in October:
“When things come down to interpretation, the same stewards week-in, week-out would bring better consistency because they’re interpreting things in the same manner.”
“Over-ruled” Racing
Brown also criticized the over-regulation of racing, suggesting F1 needs to adopt a more discretionary approach:
“We’ve over-ruled, like, everything—so now, it’s literally the race to the apex. We need a bit of common sense when applying these penalties.”
The Road Ahead
While the FIA remains hesitant, the increasing clamor for reform from key figures like Brown and Russell adds pressure to address the situation before the 2025 season. As the stakes in F1 grow higher, consistent and transparent officiating will remain a hot-button issue for teams, drivers, and fans alike.
Whether the FIA can reconcile the demand for better stewarding with financial limitations remains to be seen. What’s clear, however, is that the calls for change are growing louder, and the integrity of the sport could depend on how they respond.
