FIA pushes back against ‘inappropriate criticism’ with new penalty and driving guidelines for F1 – Amid ongoing tensions over controversial race decisions in Formula 1, the FIA has taken the unusual step of releasing two internal documents to shed light on how stewards determine penalties and judge driving standards. Released just ahead of the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, this is part of a broader initiative by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to increase transparency and protect officials from what he describes as ‘exaggerated and completely inappropriate criticism’.
However, the publication’s timing and contents may only fuel fresh debates, particularly in light of recent high-profile incidents involving title contenders.
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The FIA lifts the curtain on the stewarding process
The first document, totalling five pages, provides a comprehensive breakdown of how stewards are advised to interpret key on-track scenarios. The FIA is quick to clarify that this is ‘guidance, not regulation’, but it covers crucial elements of racecraft, from overtaking manoeuvres, both inside and outside a corner, to changing lines under braking, to returning to the track safely, and to handling safety car phases.
The second, more detailed document, spanning 13 pages, sets out suggested penalties for various infringements across practice, qualifying and race sessions. It functions as a kind of menu, listing offences alongside their corresponding penalties, including potential time penalties, stop-and-go infringements, and penalty points on a driver’s Super Licence.
Offences include a broad range of actions, from holding up rivals and dangerous driving to leaving the track, pushing opponents off and unsafe pit releases. Even reactions to flag signals are covered. According to the FIA, the aim is to make the stewards’ application of the rules more consistent and comprehensible.
Ben Sulayem: Time to defend the stewards
With mounting scrutiny over a number of controversial calls in recent races, he said that the time had come to explain more clearly how stewarding decisions are made.
“The stewards undertake an extremely complex task, not only in Formula 1, but in all our championships,” said the FIA president.
“They do so on a voluntary basis, with great passion and dedication. Unfortunately, this commitment is all too often met with exaggerated and completely inappropriate criticism.”
He added that publishing the documents is a step towards correcting misconceptions.
“To demonstrate the care with which they carry out their work, we are publishing the guidelines on penalties and driving standards that underpin their decisions,” he said.
“This will give fans and media representatives a much deeper and more accurate insight into how decisions are made in Formula 1.”
Although this may seem like a novel step, Ben Sulayem noted that these guidelines have been used internally for almost ten years. The driving standards handbook was introduced in 2022 and has been regularly updated with input from the drivers themselves, something that the FIA president highlighted as vital for credibility.
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Setting a standard from the top down
The FIA is also hoping that this move will have a ripple effect throughout motorsport. According to the documents, the same standards applied in Formula 1 should be mirrored in junior categories.
“It is of central importance that young drivers in the lower categories are subject to the same standards that will apply when they eventually progress to the highest classes of the sport,” the FIA states.
In this sense, Formula 1 is not merely reacting to criticism; it is actively trying to influence behaviour and understanding across the entire racing pyramid. From grassroots motorsport to the elite, the FIA wants a clear and consistent interpretation of the racing rulebook.
Why Verstappen’s case still looms large
Despite the FIA’s good intentions, the publication is already generating headlines for what it suggests rather than what it solves. In particular, the incident involving Max Verstappen and George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix has become a focal point.
According to the penalty matrix included in the new documents, a collision involving “obvious intent or gross negligence” should result in a 10-second stop-and-go penalty or a time penalty of more than 30 seconds, as well as four penalty points.
Had Verstappen received this penalty, he would have exceeded the 12-point threshold on his super licence and been suspended from the subsequent race in Montreal.
In reality, however, Verstappen was handed a 10-second time penalty and three points, bringing his total to 11 — just one point shy of a race ban. With two of those points set to expire after the Austrian Grand Prix, he is expected to drop back down to nine points, which would take him out of the danger zone temporarily.
The discrepancy between the guidelines and the actual punishments has reignited discussions about the consistency of stewarding decisions — the very issue that the FIA was hoping to address with this new level of transparency.
George Russell and the GPDA have responded positively
Nevertheless, the move has found support from some of the drivers themselves. George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), welcomed the publication, saying it would play an important role in helping the wider public to understand the stewards’ decision-making process.
“This is an important issue,” said the Mercedes driver.
“Hopefully, it will benefit the sport if the media and fans have a better understanding of the on-track rules and can see how the race stewards make their decisions.”
Russell’s endorsement carries weight, particularly given that he was one of the drivers directly affected by the incident in question. However, support for the guidelines across the paddock is far from unanimous, with several drivers expected to express their views over the Spielberg weekend.
It is a balancing act of perception and enforcement
Ultimately, the FIA is walking a tightrope between transparency and overexposure. By making the internal logic used to penalise drivers more transparent, the FIA is inviting greater scrutiny, not less. Any deviation from the published guidelines will now be more obvious and open to debate, particularly if it affects championship contenders.
However, this risk may well be worth it. For years, fans, journalists and even team principals have criticised the lack of transparency in Formula 1 stewarding. A clearer insight into the system, especially if it demonstrates consistency and rationale, could significantly rebuild trust in race control decisions.
However, if inconsistencies persist, the guidelines may be used as ammunition rather than as a shield.
What to watch going forward:
As the Austrian Grand Prix unfolds, all eyes will be on how the stewards handle even the smallest incidents. With Verstappen still on the brink of a race ban and teams now in possession of the document used to justify decisions, any call could be highly controversial.
Whether this move by the FIA brings clarity or chaos, one thing is certain: in the political world of Formula 1, transparency is always a double-edged sword.
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In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, the two-time World Rally Champion explained his reasoning, citing the complexity of the FIA’s internal challenges and his personal and professional racing commitments. “After thoughtful reflection, I have concluded that the present circumstances are not conducive to laying the groundwork for my candidacy,” he wrote…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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