FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has strongly responded to George Russell’s call for a full-time Formula One steward, dismissing the idea and telling the Mercedes driver to focus on his own business. Russell, expressing frustration over several controversial decisions during the season, suggested that professional, full-time stewards should be overseeing races to ensure consistency and accountability. However, Ben Sulayem has shut down this suggestion, pointing out that the FIA simply cannot afford to pay stewards salaries.
In a statement, Ben Sulayem emphasized that while some people talk about the need for professionalism in stewarding, they fail to acknowledge the financial burden that would entail. He said, “It’s very nice talk but when they say professional, and they want professional, they don’t want to pay for it. That is so obvious.” The FIA president pointed out that drivers are earning significant amounts of money, but no one questions how they spend their earnings. He added that the FIA’s budget is constrained and, as such, full-time paid stewards are not a viable option at the moment.
Ben Sulayem also noted that stewards cannot simply be pulled from thin air and must undergo thorough training and education. He acknowledged the idea of professional referees, like those in the Premier League, but stressed that the FIA does not have the necessary funds to implement such a model. The FIA has a system in place for steward training, and while stewards may come and go, as long as they are committed, fair, and properly trained, this system will continue.
This comes after the FIA’s decision to sack Tim Mayer, a long-serving steward, in November, despite Mayer’s significant experience. Russell’s suggestion of professional stewards was a personal opinion, not one officially backed by the drivers, but it reflects growing concerns about stewarding consistency in the sport.
