Max Verstappen’s Father Jos Verstappen demands ‘consistency’ in race control
Max Verstappen's father Jos Verstappen demanded more consistency from race stewards in Formula 1 after a controversial 2024 season.
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Jos Verstappen and Max Verstappen (via Red Bull), Stefano Domenicali (via IMAGO)
The 2024 Formula 1 season witnessed multiple controversial situations surrounding the sport and the FIA. The governing body was heavily criticized due to unfair and inconsistent rulings against drivers. Hence, following the fiasco, 2024 champion Max Verstappen‘s father Jos Verstappen demanded more consistency in the decision-making.
Multiple individuals suggested the FIA appoint permanent stewards to facilitate better and more consistent rulings. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem recently suggested why enforcing this option wasn’t possible due to a lack of funds. Jos Verstappen revealed that he discussed with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali about stewards having to punish more consistently. One must note that stewarding is overseen by the FIA with F1 not playing any role on managing race control.
I also discussed this with Stefano Domenicali. The stewards simply have to punish consistently. The same for everyone.
Jos Verstappen told Formule1.nl
Despite Sulayem’s clarification, Verstappen suggested that Formula 1 should have a permanent pool of stewards. The Dutchman believed that former drivers of the sport shouldn’t be the ones becoming the stewards. On the contrary, people with distance from the sport and fewer interests should be the ones stewarding. Due to this, the 52-year-old hoped for better consistency and better decisions during incidents.
It would help if there was a permanent pool of stewards. And no more former Formula 1 drivers, but just people who have more distance and fewer interests, but who at the same time understand what the sport entails. With the same stewards every time, you will also get more of the same decisions. More consistency, that is simply better.
Jos Verstappen added
Formula 1 stewards do not know ‘what to do’ anymore
A majority of the stewards were ill-talked in the 2024 season due to the issues with penalties and rulings. Jos Verstappen highlighted that the stewards did not know what to do anymore while issuing penalties. Moreover, Verstappen Sr. questioned about his son getting a petty penalty for dropping the F-bomb during a weekend in Formula 1.
The stewards don’t know what to do anymore. I think there should be stricter rules in that area. Not one time a five-second time penalty and the next time a ten-second time penalty for the same offence. And why did Max get a community service order for the word F*ck and another a fine?
Jos Verstappen noted
Despite the several controversies, the 2024 season peaked in excitement and competition at the forefront. Multiple teams contended for the constructors’ championship as it dragged on until the very last race. Hence, 2025 is expected to be even more interesting due to all the massive changes to the teams on the grid.
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Aditya Pandya
(1439 Articles Published)