Why stewards deliberately took their time before making decisions in Miami

Hours after the Miami Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Max Verstappen learned their fate following possible infringements. During the race, commentators and then social media complained about the stewards, who could not reach a decision. 'It’s black-and-white,' David Croft said on Sky Sports about the incident involving Verstappen, for example. He argued that the Dutchman either crossed the line or he did not.

Apparently, the British commentator, and the people complaining on social media, hadn’t been paying attention at the start of the season. The FIA and the drivers had specifically agreed that when there is any doubt, an investigation would take place after the session. That way, additional camera footage could be reviewed and, if necessary, drivers could be heard.

There are always shots that are not immediately available in the live broadcast but only become so afterward. These are often the images teams present when they submit a 'Right of Review'. It was precisely these kinds of hearings (which often led nowhere, ed.) that the FIA, the drivers, and the teams wanted to avoid from this season onward.

The stewards therefore followed the process very well, working toward fairer decision-making. Afterwards, no driver openly expressed annoyance about the lengthy consultations. That would have been odd, since, as mentioned, the drivers were key catalysts behind this improved way of working.

Moreover, it has been shown that the decisions taken by the stewards were truly based on all available information. Going back to the Verstappen incident: if they had relied solely on the footage available during the race, the Dutchman likely could not have been penalized. After all, the images did not provide a definitive conclusion on whether he had crossed the line. Doubt means no penalty. The additional footage then showed that Verstappen had indeed committed an infraction, so a penalty was justified.

Perhaps decisions could be communicated a bit more quickly after the race, but at the same time, thoroughness outweighs speed. It also remains a human process: drivers can be heard, footage is carefully reviewed, and all the paperwork is put in order. That simply takes time.