FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has responded to George Russell’s call for professional, paid stewards. The British driver advocated for professional referees in early November following the controversial races during the American triple header. While Ben Sulayem is open to the idea, the Emirati wonders who will pay the salary.
The American triple header sparked considerable controversy, with much debate arising during the weekends in Austin, Mexico City, and São Paulo over sometimes unclear racing guidelines. The Mexican Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen received two time penalties after his on-track battle with Lando Norris, caused quite a stir. George Russell quickly called for the professionalization of the stewards, so that the guidelines would be interpreted more consistently. The stewards currently work on a voluntary basis.
“It’s all well and good to talk. But when they say professional, and they want professional, they don’t want to pay for it. That’s clear,” FIA President Ben Sulayem responded to the Mercedes driver’s proposal in an interview with Motorsport.com. According to the president, it’s unfair for the drivers to interfere with where his organization invests its money. “But I’m not saying, ‘Oh, sorry, what about you?’ The drivers get more than a hundred million dollars. Do I ask where they spend it? No, that’s up to them. It’s their right.”
No Money
The Emirati also doesn’t understand why Formula 1 is bringing this issue to the governing body. “But sometimes I really don’t get it. It’s always about the FIA. Why are we doing this? Why are we doing that?’ But has anyone gone to the FOM?” Ben Sulayem wonders. “I see the point that they might need to be paid like the Premier League. But we don’t have the money for that.
