‘Cannot order them on Google,’ FIA President announces special department to train race officials after criticism from F1 paddock

FIA had been under constant criticism for lack of race officials, to which Mohammed Ben Sulayem has punched back upon.

‘Cannot order them on Google,’ FIA President announces special department to train race officials after criticism from F1 paddock

Mohammed Ben Sulayem (via IMAGO)

The 2024 F1 season has been full of allegations thrown toward the teams and the governing body. On multiple occasions, FIA has been pointed out for not doing their work properly and turning a blind eye toward certain drivers. However, to combat such criticism, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has devised a special department for training race officials while taking a sarcastic jibe at people who have been condemning the regulatory body.

At the start of the 2024 season, Christian Horner’s inappropriate behavior saga had initially gone unnoticed by the FIA. This enraged the paddock on how the FOM and the governing body are sidelining the pressing issue. On the other hand, drivers like Max Verstappen not being penalized for their antics in Austria had severely affected FIA’s reputation.

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While various kinds of statements were hurled at the regulatory body, the issue of less than adequate race officials working under the FIA has also been brought into the limelight. Subsequently, to do away with this problem, Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced on Monday that a new department for training race officials would be formulated.

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Then if you look at our officials and race directors: we have an issue and the issue is that we don't have [enough] race directors. So can you just simply go and order them? No. I said it in one of my tweets. I said: You cannot order them on Amazon or Google. No, you have to make them, you have to train them.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem said in an interview with Motorsport

The 62-year-old claimed that stewards need to be trained on how to investigate infringements. Moreover, he asserted that race directors cannot be hired from Google or Amazon, as proper training needs to take place to ensure that no stone is left unturned.

FIA delivered their verdict on Max Verstappen’s safety car infringement

Though FIA is preparing to increase its arsenal by adding more stewards, the governing body continues to double down on infringements and potential wrongdoings by drivers. One such incident (VSC) was taken into consideration when the reigning champion, after the Baku race was over caused title rival Lando Norris to bemoan about the incident on his radio.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

On the penultimate lap of the race, two drivers collided, urging the FIA to declare a VSC out on track. This neutralized the race and drivers had to go to parc fermé without overtaking another driver while in yellow flag conditions.

The driver overtook other cars after the chequered flag, but while a VSC was still being displayed, following the crash at Turn 2. The driver was reminded that while passing after the chequered flag is not unusual, it is prohibited in the case of yellows, safety car or virtual safety car procedures. .
FIA via its official page

On the contrary, Verstappen passed multiple cars on track after the checkered flag fell. This earned the Dutchman a warning from the stewards as the incident took place after the race was over. However, he was informed that if a similar instance was repeated, he would be penalized in subsequent races.

Apart from this, a title fight has enraged at the front of the field. McLaren has taken over the lead of the constructors’ standings after a decade and would thus, be keen on getting a championship back to Woking. Red Bull would have to hope for a miracle to get the lead of the championship back before the end of the season.