In a sport where every detail counts and split-second decisions can influence championships, it’s remarkable that the stewards making these decisions are still unpaid volunteers. Zak Brown believes it’s time for a professional approach and even suggests that teams contribute financially to the salaries of full-time stewards.
Consistency in Decisions
The lack of consistency in penalties within Formula 1 has long been a point of discussion. Stewards vary per race weekend, leading to differing interpretations of incidents. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem previously acknowledged that permanent stewards could be a solution, but posed the question: who foots the bill? Brown has an answer: according to him, the FIA, Formula 1, and the teams should jointly invest in a professional corps of stewards.
A Technical Role in a Billion-Dollar Industry
For Brown, it’s simple: “We’re in a billion-dollar industry where everything revolves around making the right decisions. But we expect part-time, unpaid stewards to carry that responsibility? That’s not how you create success.” According to Brown, it’s necessary to appoint full-time stewards who thoroughly understand the sport and rules and can look at incidents with a broader perspective. “The current regulations are too restrictive.”
The biggest question, of course, remains: who’s going to pay for it? Brown doesn’t see the problem. “If everyone contributes, it’s a fraction of the costs in the grand scheme of Formula 1. This won’t break the bank, but it could make a huge difference for the sport.”
