Russell pitches steward idea to fix key F1 issue

George Russell has called for the introduction of a permanent race steward to ensure consistency across on-track decisions.

F1’s racing guidelines have been a topic of conversation of late following Max Verstappen’s aggressive approach to his battle with Lando Norris in Mexico.

The Dutchman forced Norris wide twice in four corners and was issued two 10-second time penalties.

Norris claims that Verstappen knows “deep down” that he was in the wrong, while the three-time F1 champion asserted it was “hard racing”.

Amid calls for revisions to the rulebook, Russell feels only minor adjustments are needed.

“On a personal view, not a view of the collective, I don’t think it [the rulebook] needs ripping up at all,” he told media including RacingNews365. “It just needs some fine adjustments or a small addition. It’s all pretty clear.

“The guidelines need to be in place but it also needs to be remembered they are guidelines. There’s not a written regulation and it’s down to the stewards to take the best judgement.

“When things come down to interpretation and when things are about consistency, you can argue if you were to have the same stewards week in, week out, the consistency would be better.

“They’re interpreting things in the same manner and the drivers understand exactly what they expect in a given circumstance.”

Russell calls for permanent steward

F1’s current batch of stewards work in rotation, with no figure fixed to every race of the season.

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, who has also worked as a steward for several years, has been accused of “bias” by Max’s father Jos.

Russell has suggested the idea of a permanent steward to implement consistency when it comes to penalties regarding on-track incidents.

“So I do feel, again a personal view, not one on behalf of the drivers, we’re at a point now in this sport that we do need a full-time professional steward in where they earn a real salary,” he said.

“They’re not effectively volunteers and I do think within the pool of stewards we’ve got now, they are definitely up to standard. 

“It’s not saying anything bad about the current stewards, it’s just saying I feel we should be having consistent stewarding week in, week out.”