Drivers see a solution to inconsistent time penalties in F1

It has been a big topic of conversation since Abu Dhabi 2021: there needs to be more consistency in the penalties given. One solution being discussed is permanent stewards at every race. Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas share their views on this in Japan.

In Formula 1, there is currently a change of only stewards for every race. One reason for this is that likes or dislikes towards a driver do not play a role in the penalties given. Yet this changing system also creates inconsistency. Fernando Alonso's penalty in Australia has reignited the debate.

F1 drivers are fans of permanent stewards

Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez is a fan of permanent stewards. I think either permanent stewards or more communication within the FIA to keep improving race after race to have this consistency." The Mexican driver is not worried about the preferences of the stewards. "It feels like there is a lot of disconnection weekend to weekend. When there is a change of stewards, it feels like there is no continuity of what has happened in the last, I don't know, ten races, for example. That's my point of view. There is no regularity. There is no continuity of facts."

Stake F1 driver Valtteri Bottas agrees with Perez. "I feel like it's it has improved the consistency and there should be guidelines but it's still the issue is that it's not always the same people who decide. There are different stewards and different races. Different people might have different opinions based on, their experience, their background, whether they've been racing or not, etc. So I think if they were always the same people making the decisions probably would be even more consistent." In addition, Bottas thinks it would help if the stewards were a bit younger and had raced more recently.