Sainz reveals how F1 could achieve more consistency in decision-making process
Carlos Sainz has reiterated his long‑standing belief that Formula 1 should adopt a system of fixed race stewards, arguing that the current rotating structure contributes to inconsistent decision‑making and unnecessary controversy.
Speaking in the aftermath of a turbulent run of stewarding flashpoints, the former Ferrari driver said the sport still lacks the level of procedural consistency required for such a complex championship.
Sainz acknowledged that he tries to remain composed when discussing officiating matters, particularly immediately after a race, but admitted that certain situations make it difficult to understand how decisions are reached. He stressed that his position reflects his personal view rather than that of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.
“I have always said, and I will always support the idea, that in Formula 1 we should have fixed stewards,” Sainz explained. “The regulations are already incredibly complex, and it would be very useful to always have the same people judging and applying them, because then you know what you’re dealing with. My belief is that’s the way forward.”
The Spaniard pointed to his penalty at the Dutch Grand Prix as an example of how rushed decision‑making can lead to incorrect outcomes. He argued that the stewards applied the written rule without sufficiently analysing the available onboard footage, which he believes would have shown that no penalty was warranted.
“In my case in Zandvoort, the decision was a consequence of trying to rush without looking deep enough into the analysis,” he said. “If you just apply the rule in the rulebook, you could understand why they would want to penalise me. But the moment you analyse the onboard footage and go into detail, you can clearly see why I should have never got a penalty.”
Sainz contrasted his situation with the incident involving Lewis Hamilton, where the decision process took significantly longer. Hamilton ultimately received a penalty that he served at the following race, despite having had ample time during the Grand Prix itself to take any potential sanction.
“Maybe in the Lewis incident, the decision process took too long, and he had to suffer a penalty in Monza when he did nothing wrong there,” Sainz said. “He had half an hour during the race to pay a penalty for his infringement. That shows how difficult the process is and how difficult everything is to handle.”
The Williams driver argued that these contrasting cases highlight the need for closer collaboration between drivers, the FIA, and the GPDA to improve the system. He believes the sport has not yet reached the level of consistency and clarity required for a championship of Formula 1’s complexity.
“Zandvoort exposed why we are not at the right level yet for such a difficult but incredible sport to watch,” he concluded. “There are always improvements to be made, and it needs to be a collaboration between drivers, the FIA, and the GPDA to find better solutions.”
