Formula 1 will have an expanded F1 stewards panel in 2025, adding a fourth member upon an analysis of past races.
The FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, is increasing the number of officials at select high-workload events. This change aims to improve the efficiency and accuracy of decision-making throughout the season.
As reported by Autosport, Instead of the regular three stewards, four will be present during races in Australia, China, Canada, Singapore, Mexico, and Brazil this season. With these races expected to be the most busy for those in charge.
The reasoning behind the stewarding change
Throughout the sport’s history, the F1 steward panel has consisted of three officials. One of the officials is an ex-racer who provides a driver’s perspective on the issues at hand. However, after analysing races over the past season, the FIA has determined that certain events require additional help.
The additional steward is expected to provide a quicker initial review of incidents. This ensures that the full panel has the necessary information before making a formal decision. However, the final decisions will still be determined collectively. To uphold the integrity of the existing stewarding system.
These changes follow the call for permanent FIA stewards. However, while FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is open to the idea, he is most concerned about who will pay for it. He claims that drivers “don’t want to pay for it.”
Contrastingly, McLaren Team Boss Zak Brown said that his team would be happy to contribute as long as “all the other teams” also contributed to the cost.
The 2025 season kicks off in Melbourne in just ten days. With this stewarding change coming into effect during the Australian Grand Prix, many will be watching closely to see how this expanded panel impacts the decision-making processes during a race weekend.
Feature Image Credit: @FIA on X
