FIA Expands F1 Stewards Panels for Six 2025 Races

The FIA has approved a significant change to its stewarding regulations for the 2025 Formula 1 season, expanding the number of stewards from three to four at six selected races deemed to have a 'high workload.' This adjustment will apply to the Australian, Chinese, Canadian, Singaporean, Mexican, and Brazilian Grands Prix, aimed at enhancing decision-making capabilities during events. The revised Article 15.1 of the FIA's Sporting Regulations states that one of the four stewards will be appointed as chairman from a pool of FIA Super Licence holders. The change follows criticism regarding the current stewarding setup and aims to provide better oversight during races, allowing the additional steward to conduct initial reviews of incidents. The ongoing debate about the use of unpaid volunteer stewards has also resurfaced, with calls for a more professional and funded approach to officiating in F1. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has emphasized the need for investment to achieve these improvements.