P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A handful of contentious decisions have reignited the debate about F1 stewarding – and the idea of permanent stewards – but important context is being lost
The Formula 1 stewards’ decision-making process has been under scrutiny after the recent meeting between drivers and the FIA at the Qatar Grand Prix. This annual meeting aims to align the views of the racing regulator and competitors on incident judgment. The discussion often highlights controversial incidents, like the Piastri penalty at the Brazilian Grand Prix, raising questions about decision consistency and the need for permanent stewards.
The focus on debated incidents overshadows the majority of agreements between stewards and competitors. The Qatar meeting reviewed five key incidents from the 2025 season, representing less than 1% of all cases stewards handled. Out of 509 incidents, 405 were investigated, with 252 resulting in no action and 153 in penalties.
Penalties included fines, warnings, reprimands, time penalties, grid position drops, and disqualifications. The top incidents discussed by drivers and the FIA were just 0.98% of cases referred to stewards. Despite room for improvement, no system can satisfy everyone all the time. Discussions continue on the topic of having permanent stewards for consistent judgments.
