FIA Committed To Fairness Amid Stewarding Criticism - Ben Sulayem

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) remains committed to ensuring fairness in Formula One (F1) despite complaints from drivers over stewarding, its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said.

Responding to concerns over inconsistency in stewarding and race control, Ben Sulayem acknowledged the drivers' views but stressed that the FIA has a responsibility to ensure fairness.

“Stewards don't grow on trees. Stewards do not go and order them as this is your place,” he told a media roundtable with selected Malaysian media on Sunday.

Ben Sulayem was in Malaysia for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, held on Oct 2-4 at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). 

The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix was supposed to take place on April 10-12. However, following the disruption arising from the West Asia conflict, it was rescheduled and held at the SIC. 

Concerns over consistency in F1 stewarding have been raised by drivers in recent seasons, including over the use of different stewarding panels from race to race and the interpretation of driving standards and penalty guidelines.

The FIA introduced its Formula One Driving Standards Guidelines in 2022 following requests from drivers for greater clarity on how racing incidents would be judged.

The guidelines have since been revised in consultation with drivers and teams, while the governing body has also published its penalty guidelines as part of efforts to improve transparency and consistency in decision-making.

Ben Sulayem said while he understood the drivers' concerns, he questioned whether the same complaints would arise when they were winning.

“The same drivers, I see their point and I love them all. But the people who complain, when they are winning, do they complain?,” he added. 

Ben Sulayem said ensuring fairness did not mean every FIA decision would be popular, acknowledging that some fans may not agree with the way the governing body operates.

“But at the end of the day, one thing I can promise you, fairness to everyone and they know that,” he added.

-- BERNAMA