McLaren CEO Zak Brown has suggested that Formula 1 teams should help pay for professional stewards to improve the standard of racing.
The FIA laid out its plans for a new official department last week to help train aspiring officials and race directors across all forms of its motorsport categories.
The idea for a new department came after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem axed key staff members last year, including race director Niels Wittich and race steward Tim Mayer.
Additionally, Johnny Herbert was removed recently from his role as race steward after concerns from the governing body over his work as an official and as an F1 media analyst.
The new FIA department aims to help the organisation by having a wider pool of officials to choose from according to Nikolas Tombazis.
The Papaya boss said he was fond of the idea to back full-time race stewards whilst speaking at the Autosport Business Exchange in London.
“To have part-time, unpaid stewards in a multi-billion-dollar sport where everything is on the line to make the right call… I don’t think we are set up for success by not having full-time stewards,” Brown said.
“The individuals are fine but the rulebook is too restrictive.
“I’d like us to take a step back, loosen it up, have full-time stewards who can make more of a subjective decision of whether that was right or wrong.
“As far as paying for the stewards, this will probably be unpopular amongst my fellow teams, I’m happy if McLaren and all the racing teams contribute.
“It’s so important for the sport, it can’t be that expensive if everybody contributes.
“It’s not going to break the bank.”
Brown: If we want change we must pay
The consistency of the decisions made across race weekends in 2024 was questioned by a number of drivers and teams last season.
Mercedes’ George Russell, one of the directors for the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association), was one of the pilots who questioned why the FIA weren’t employing full-time stewards.
Tombazis responded to the British driver’s concerns, claiming the standard of officiating was in fact “pretty consistent” in his view as he felt the organisation came under unfair criticism.
However, Brown insisted that McLaren and others must pay up if it wants to see the change it desires.
“What I don’t know is what’s the relationship contractually between the FIA and Formula 1 as far as what’s the level of expectations on stewarding,” he added.
“But at the end of the day, the agreement says part-time stewarding is not paid.
“In any business, if you want something different, it’s called a change order and if you want to change something, you have to pay for it.
“So, if we have to pay for it, in the big scheme of things I do not think it will be a significant amount.
“If it comes back to McLaren where you pay a percentage and what F1 will pay and what the FIA will pay, if you break up that fee, it is not that much but I think it is that important.”
READ MORE: McLaren CEO Zak Brown ignites call for full-time F1 race stewards in 2025
Discussion about this post