Natalie Corsmit, a Dutch national, is the third woman ever to serve as a steward in Formula 1. She discusses her journey to the top tier, the criticism she and her colleagues face, and why a permanent pool of stewards is not the solution. “You have to maintain a distance,” she says.
Of course, not everyone is always happy with the stewards’ decisions, but according to Corsmit, that’s part of the sport. “When something happens between two parties, there’s always a chance that one party is unhappy and the other is satisfied,” she explains.
This is one of the reasons why Corsmit doubts the need for a permanent pool of stewards in Formula 1. “I think it’s very important for a steward to remain independent and not become too familiar with the teams and drivers. You have to maintain a distance,” she believes. “That’s why a rotating pool is actually good. It also prevents a driver from saying, ‘This steward has been against me all year’.”
