McLaren CEO Zak Brown has called upon the FIA to introduce full-time race stewards for the 2025 Formula 1 season after “too many inconsistencies” last season.
Brown’s latest verdict comes amid multiple incidents involving his driver Lando Norris and the reigning World Champion Max Verstappen during the 2024 campaign.
The duo clashed at the United States Grand Prix as Norris was given a five-second time penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage, to McLaren’s discontent.
In Mexico, the Dutchman was the one who was penalised after two separate incidents on the same lap – for which he received 20 seconds worth of time penalties.
George Russell called out the discrepancies in the officiating between different races following the Qatar Grand Prix – where seven in-race penalties were dished out.
Russell said that there was “zero indication” from Rui Marques, appointed Race Director late last season, that there would be stricter penalties handed out in the race.
Brown has echoed the opinion that F1 needs more consistency, urging the FIA to use full-time race stewards.
“I think we need to take a step back in the winter,” Brown told Channel 4.
“We have too many penalties, we have too many inconsistencies.
“I think we all recognise we need full-time stewarding.
“I don’t blame the stewards, but I don’t think they’re set up for success, so we need full-time stewards.“
Brown wants more ‘subjective’ decision-making
Last month, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated the sport’s governing body doesn’t “have the money” to hire full-time stewards, as stewards are currently compensated only for their expenses.
Speaking on the matter in October, Russell said: “When things come down to interpretation, and when things are about consistency, you can argue if you were to have the same stewards week-in, week-out, the consistency will be better because they’re interpreting things in the same manner and the drivers understand exactly what they expect in a given circumstance.“
However, Brown argued how he felt the racing in F1 has become “over-ruled” as of late.
“I also think, and we’ve got no one but ourselves to blame, whether it’s the teams, the drivers – we’ve over-ruled, like, everything – so now, it’s like, literally the race to the apex,” he added.
“So I think we just need to take [a] step back and be a bit more subjective, discretionary and a little bit of common sense when some of these penalties are applied.”
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