“Permanent stewards? And who will pay them?”: Mohammed Ben Sulayem hits out at F1 drivers. Mohammed Ben Sulayem tempers expectations amid permanent stewards idea.

Permanent stewards in F1? Mohammed Ben Sulayem responds to the requests made to the FIA: who would be willing to pay them? The idea, repeatedly proposed by drivers and other stakeholders, has already garnered broad support within the paddock. However, the President of the International Federation dampens the enthusiasm, emphasizing that establishing such a specialized role would require new investments.

Amid the extensive debate between the FIA, FOM, and drivers, the topic of race direction has also emerged. The FIA is being asked to ensure consistency in the sporting decisions made during race weekends, which could potentially be achieved by ending the current rotation of race stewards and making the role permanent.

This proposal has gained increasing support over time. Establishing the role of a true “referee,” who would make decisions using the same criteria at every round of the championship, could have avoided much of the controversy seen in 2024. However, according to the FIA President, such a position would entail additional costs.

FIA, Ben Sulayem: “Permanent Stewards in F1 Come at a Cost”
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Mohammed Ben Sulayem shared his perspective on the matter: “These are nice discussions, but when they talk about professionalism, they don’t want to pay for it. It’s obvious. They talk and then ask us what we do with our money. But I don’t say: ‘Oh, sorry, and what about you?’ Drivers earn millions. Do I ask them where they spend it? No, that’s up to them, it’s their right.” – the FIA president explained.

“We do what we want with our money. It’s our business. The same goes for them and their money. It’s their business. I always say this: stewards don’t grow on trees. It takes time to educate them, it takes time to train them. And then they need to grow; it’s a program. I understand the idea of having them like in the Premier League, where they are paid, but we don’t have the money to do that. So we need to be very careful about how we proceed. As long as they are committed, fair, and properly trained, there will be stewards who come and go.” – Mohammed Ben Sulayem concluded.