Are the FIA stewards intentionally more lenient this season?
This year, the spectacle is once again present at the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and according to the German press, the FIA is not unrelated to this. Indeed, it is said to have asked the race stewards to be more lenient during contentious actions to encourage on-track action between drivers.
Since the beginning of the season, there have been several contentious actions on the track, but only a few drivers have been sanctioned, and according to Auto Motor und Sport, there is a very simple explanation for this.
Indeed, a secret meeting is said to have taken place this winter between the President of the FIA, some drivers including Sebastian Vettel, Charlie Whiting – the FIA race director -, team managers, and stewards. According to the German magazine, it was concluded that the stewards should be more lenient this season in order to promote on-track action and, consequently, the spectacle.
Since the beginning of the year, several drivers have complained about being obstructed during qualifying, but few penalties have been imposed. Moreover, in China, there were several incidents during the race, notably between the Force India drivers, between Gutiérrez and Sutil, and Webber and Vergne, but in the end, only two penalties were given – 3 and 5 grid places in Bahrain for Webber and Gutiérrez. There were some heated moments on track in Bahrain – particularly between Webber and Rosberg or the McLaren drivers – and once again lenient stewards imposed no penalties at the finish.
« Has this been noted? The drivers are punished far less [than in 2012, editor’s note]. This has made the races even better. You can feel that the drivers have more confidence. We have rarely seen such intense fights, wheel-to-wheel battles like in Bahrain, » comments Michael Schmidt, the correspondent for the German publication.
