At the request of President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, two key documents designed to support the stewards in their decision-making during Grands Prix have been released for the benefit of the media and fans: alongside the “Penalty Guidelines”, the “Driving Standards Guidelines” have also been made public. This is a move that deserves praise.
A Formula 1 steward who is part of the judging panel during a Grand Prix has access to a thirteen-page document to consult before issuing a penalty to a driver during a race. The FIA’s “Penalty Guidelines” have now been made public, along with another important document, the “Driving Standards Guidelines”, both of which are useful for helping professionals and fans better understand the decisions that often spark intense controversy.
The FIA has thus taken a step toward greater transparency in how decisions are made, not only in Formula 1. President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who has often been criticized for a top-down approach to running the International Federation and its members, has this time shown a level of openness that can only be commended.
For the first time, two key documents created to assist stewards in the correct application of the Formula 1 World Championship regulations have been made public.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed satisfaction: “FIA stewards carry out an extremely complex task, not only in Formula 1 but across all our championships, and they do so voluntarily, with great passion and commitment. This dedication is too often subject to harsh and completely unjustified criticism. To demonstrate the rigour with which they perform their role, we are publishing the Penalty Guidelines and the Driving Standards Guidelines that support them in their decisions.”
“These documents will provide fans and the media with a much deeper and more accurate insight into how decisions are made in Formula 1. The Penalty Guidelines have been a fundamental tool for nearly a decade, while the Driving Standards Guidelines, introduced in 2022 and constantly updated, have brought together the most important voices—those of the drivers—to create a concrete reference for specific race scenarios.”
It is important to note that neither of these documents carries regulatory authority, but both have been drafted to support Formula 1 stewards in achieving fairness and consistency. They must be considered alongside the Formula 1 regulations, video and technical evidence, the input of the stewards, and, where appropriate, statements from the drivers and teams involved in incidents.
It is also worth emphasizing that stewards’ decisions are made independently of the FIA and are based solely on the applicable regulations, the guidelines, and the evidence presented.
The Penalty Guidelines list around 100 common infractions, recommended sanctions, and the appropriate penalty points to be applied during each session of a race weekend. In most cases, penalties are not mandatory and fall within a range at the discretion of the stewards. The Penalty Guidelines are updated regularly based on feedback from stewards, teams, and drivers.
The Driving Standards Guidelines provide clarity on the behavior drivers must follow in various race situations, including overtaking on the inside and outside of corners, chicanes, braking maneuvers, rejoining the track after an incident, conduct behind the Safety Car, and the latest guidance on track limits violations, reflecting progress made in defining those limits.
The latest version of the Driving Standards Guidelines was drafted for the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. Further refinements will be made in collaboration with F1 drivers and teams.
Mercedes driver George Russell commented: “Greater transparency in the governance of our sport is an important topic, and this is a helpful step in that direction. Hopefully, it will benefit the sport by giving the media and fans a clearer understanding of the rules of engagement on track and help them see how stewards make their decisions.”
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