FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has shared his thoughts on Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert has stepping away from his Stewarding role. This was due to concerns over a potential conflict of interest for the ex-driver.
Herbert, a three-time F1 Grand Prix winner, has been serving as an FIA steward for close to 15 years. In this time, he made frequent appearances as a Journalist and Formula 1 pundit. These roles raised questions about a potential impartiality when it came to Herbert’s stewarding decisions. Ben Sulayem stated, “Johnny was a very good steward, but there was a conflict of interest, and he knows it. You can’t be a journalist at a big company, express your point of view, and then act as a steward, which is like being a referee.”
The FIA President elaborated on the challenges of maintaining neutrality in stewarding. A major problem remained, the rise of public motorsport opinions on Social Media platforms, opinions that might influence ones decision-making. Sulayem questioned the implications for a steward expressing favouritism toward a certain team or driver.
“You say, ‘my best scenario is for so-and-so to win.’ And what happens if the driver you prefer has someone else in first or second place? How do you make your judgment?”
Being in a public light as Herbert is, it is increasingly difficult to ignore biases, and opinions from those around. Ben Sulayem hinted at the fact that these biases and opinions, could subconsciously impact important decisions throughout a race weekend. In turn, creating more controversy within the FIA.
While the FIA valued Herbert’s contributions, Ben Sulayem highlighted that both parties agreed on this decision. “He understood it and thanked the FIA (for the opportunity), and we thanked him for what he’d done,” he stated.
Ben Sulayem talks future of Stewarding
Herbert’s departure highlighted key issues for the FIA stewards, issues which Sulayem has outlined solutions to. Particularly, the FIA committing to have an expanded pool of stewards to ensure a more reliable and accurate officiating body in the sport. “Our selection (of stewards) should be broader. We shouldn’t be limited, and that’s why tomorrow, with the stewards (coming out of this summit), we’ll have fresh blood, giving us a new selection that will sustain the business of motorsport,” he emphasised.
Formula 1 Teams and Drivers have also been called upon for the future of the FIA. With Ben Sulayem urging Teams and Drivers to produce constructive criticism for the FIA, instead of bluntly blaming them. This criticism would ultimately help both parties, as F1 personnel could see a more consistent and reliable officiating in the sport. Something that many members of the sport have called on.
Furthermore, Sulayem wants to implement an extensive training process for new Stewards. This is to ensure that Stewards are not only making the correct decisions, however, also able to support one another. “There have been people learning, people working behind the scenes all the time, because you can’t just drop someone into this huge challenge.”
As the FIA begins a seemingly new era, Ben Sulayem has assured Motorsport fans that their focus is set. A focus on having an impartial stewarding system for the future years of the sport.
Feature Image Credit: Mohammed Ben Sulayem | X
