FIA to punish criticism of F1 stewards more severely. Mohammed Ben Sulayem has urged sports organizations to handle criticism directed at race stewards with greater severity.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has urged sports organizations to handle criticism directed at race stewards with greater severity, linking the issue to online harassment.

In a post on his Instagram account, the president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Mohammed Ben Sulayem, called on the race stewards of sporting events under the organization’s jurisdiction to take a stronger stance against criticisms directed at them by drivers or team managers.

While the fight against online abuse has recently been a battleground between governing bodies and competition participants, particularly in Formula 1, Ben Sulayem linked the two issues, stating that there is a correlation between certain comments made by key figures in the championship and the increase in toxic behavior online.

“As part of our ongoing fight against online abuse, recent investigations have shown that there is a direct link between negative comments made by drivers and team members and the rise in hate directed at officials on social media,” the FIA president wrote, indicating that concrete measures have been taken on this matter.

“At the most recent World Motor Sport Council meeting, members approved a change to the definition of reprehensible behavior in the context of the International Sporting Code (ISC), following incidents where prominent members of our sport made comments that incited harassment against officials.”

For now, in the absence of the publication of the modified ISC, it is difficult to know the extent of the changes. However, from Ben Sulayem’s statements, it is clear that this change must be accompanied by greater severity from the stewards towards those involved: “This change will better protect FIA officials and volunteers who dedicate their time to improving our sport, ensuring that it is safe and fair.”

“Our stewards must be ready to firmly address this form of abuse, and they have my full support and that of our International Sporting Code when making their decisions. I urge them to demonstrate that the FIA will not tolerate any form of abuse in our sport.”

In recent years, some drivers have had harsh words for governing bodies and officials, particularly the stewards and track marshals. For example, at the 2021 Qatar GP, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner openly attacked the track marshal who had waved a yellow flag that Max Verstappen had ignored, before being reprimanded and later apologizing.

Last year, Sergio Perez called the stewards “a joke” after his penalty at the Abu Dhabi GP following an incident with Lando Norris. In 2023, Haas team principal Gunther Steiner also called the stewards “amateurs” after a penalty was imposed on Nico Hulkenberg in Monaco.