F1 News
FIA steward keeps trust in Ben Sulayem: 'He wants the best for everyone'
- Estéban den Toom
The 2024 Formula 1 season saw plenty of discussion surrounding the role of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The 63-year-old Emirati has led the sport's governing body since late 2021. Meanwhile, former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi, who raced four times for Red Bull Racing in 2005, now serves as an FIA steward, playing a key role in the decision-making process on race weekends.
Ben Sulayem's position at the FIA
Asked about Ben Sulayem, Liuzzi said, "I cannot really say much. Obviously, there is a lot of discussion about this position. Obviously, I think that the position can be changing in the future. Maybe it will change a little bit, and I'm sure that the president is talking closely with the team because we all want things to move forward in a better way," Liuzzi explained in The Inside Line podcast.
The Italian does not doubt Ben Sulayem's determination, however. "I'm sure that the president is talking with F1 to find the best solution for all of us. Obviously, we prefer that it will be a position a little bit different, but whatever the decision is, it will be good for both of us. For both of us, I mean Formula 1 and FIA."
Last season, Niels Wittich was dismissed from his role as Formula 1 race director. Toward the end of the season, it became evident that the German had been removed from the position, a fact Wittich himself confirmed. He was replaced by Rui Marques, who took over as race director for the final three races of the season. The Portuguese official now holds one of the most pivotal roles in F1's race operations.
Criticism of Formula 1 stewards
The final races of the 2024 Formula 1 season sparked significant criticism of the stewards, becoming a major talking point during end-of-year press conferences. Drivers were particularly frustrated by the inconsistency in decision-making, citing a lack of clear guidelines in the penalties handed out during sessions. This inconsistency left many feeling that the rules were being applied arbitrarily, fueling calls for greater transparency and standardization in stewarding decisions.
"It's a great group, and we are working well together. Sometimes, you cannot make everybody happy because everybody will like to dive into another take, they have different points of view. But at the end of the day, I think every race we are looking at is an amazing competition, an amazing show, and this is good for the sport." Concluded the former Force India driver.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels too!