An Explanation by a Steward

The rotation of stewards and the inconsistency in judgment when assigning penalties has been a longstanding situation in Method 1.

Given the numerous, maybe too many, related incidents which are typically judged in a different way from one race to a different, many have known as for the appointment of a single panel of stewards to evaluate conditions throughout Grands Prix. Nonetheless, this proposal has by no means been severely thought-about.

So why proceed with the rotation, fueling ongoing controversies, as an alternative of appointing 4 everlasting stewards for each race of the season?

In keeping with Johnny Herbert, who served as a steward at a number of occasions this yr, one of many causes could also be financial: “Ought to there be a commissioner for each single race? Can this or all 4 be debated in the identical approach? Sure, it may be mentioned,” the previous driver informed PlanetF1.

“But it surely’s a matter of time. We don’t receives a commission a lot for this. We earn $300 a day or one thing like that, so it’s little or no.”

“At that time, it turns into an actual job, the place you decide to a season, for 20 or extra races, for instance. So, it’s very, very completely different from this perspective.”

Regardless of Toto Wolff harshly criticizing the stewards after the penalty acquired by George Russell, Johnny Herbert doesn’t consider the decision-making course of differs considerably regardless of the rotations: “Each time I sat with the opposite stewards, all of us had a really related mindset.”

“I feel that’s why consistency appears to be the most effective general, and it’s tough to attempt to put collectively the appropriate substances to take care of it.”

“All of us come from very completely different locations. Two of us are English, however there’s additionally a Brazilian and an Italian. All of us have alternative ways, typically, of coping with sure conditions. It appears we’ve a peaceful workforce that works very, very nicely.”

“A driver will at all times have his opinion, and so will the groups. Everybody is available in with their very own ideas and explanations about what’s taking place. That’s the place we’ve to attempt to determine what’s occurring. Typically it’s not straightforward, typically it appears powerful, however then equity and consistency should come into play on the similar time.”

“Each time you attempt to match all the things right into a sure incident, it turns into a form of class, however they’re not all the identical inside that class as a result of they’re all completely different. Each weekend there’s one thing completely different, and that’s why the state of affairs has turn into extra constant. All of us appear to be on the identical wavelength, and that’s one thing that works very nicely for the time being.”

Dec 29, 2024Luca Marini

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