Formula 1 continues to introduce changes ahead of the 2026 season. This time, the FIA has updated the rules governing the system used to review on-track penalties.
Formula 1 is preparing to enter 2026 with one of the most innovative regulatory frameworks of recent years. Alongside major changes to the cars, new developments are also arriving on the sporting side. In particular, the FIA has decided that stewards themselves will be able to determine whether a penalty should be reviewed, without the need for a formal appeal from a team.
The measure, approved during the FIA General Assembly, stems from the intention to make the system for evaluating incidents and infringements during races faster and more accurate.
The decision follows months of internal discussions and is inspired by recent episodes in which the lack of a timely appeal prevented sanctions from being reviewed, even though new and relevant evidence had emerged. A clear example is the penalty imposed on Carlos Sainz for contact with Liam Lawson, which was withdrawn days later following an appeal from Williams.
The FIA Council has therefore established that, from the next regulatory cycle, stewards operating in the major world championships—from Formula 1 to the WEC, as well as WRC, Formula E, Rally-Raid and RX—will be able to reopen a case on their own initiative if significant information becomes available that was not accessible at the time of the original decision. The same change will also apply to the FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships.
According to the official statement, this update is designed to strengthen sporting fairness by ensuring greater operational flexibility and more effective correction of errors, without relying solely on the initiative of the teams. The mechanism partially mirrors the concept of the “right of review” and, for the first time, introduces the possibility of direct intervention by the race officials themselves.
During the Assembly, further amendments to the International Sporting Code were also discussed. These include an update to Article 12.4, which introduces the obligation to carry out specific public works among the sanctions applicable in certain cases. The new “Fitness and Honesty Test” was also introduced, with the aim of safeguarding the image and integrity of the FIA, alongside the creation of a new observer role tasked with verifying the correct and consistent application of the regulations.
With these reforms, the FIA is working to modernize sporting procedures, increase transparency, and improve responsiveness. The ability for stewards to autonomously review penalties stands out as one of the most impactful changes in recent years and could significantly influence race management and decision-making starting in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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