{
  "id": 12097369,
  "title": "Ben Sulayem: FIA committed to fairness amid stewarding criticism",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/ben-sulayem-fia-committed-to-fairness-amid-stewarding-criticism",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-05T06:53:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/motor-sports/2026/10/1548100/ben-sulayem-fia-committed-fairness-amid-stewarding-criticism"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem reiterated the governing body's dedication to maintaining fairness in Formula One amid ongoing criticism from drivers regarding stewarding practices. Acknowledging the drivers' concerns over inconsistencies in stewarding and race control, Ben Sulayem emphasized the FIA's responsibility to uphold fairness in the sport. He noted the limitations of the stewarding process, stating, \"Stewards don't grow on trees.\" The Malaysian-based Grand Prix, originally scheduled for April 10-12, 2026, was moved to the Sepang International Circuit due to disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict. Driver dissatisfaction regarding the use of varying stewarding panels in different races and the interpretation of driving standards and penalties has been a recurring issue. The FIA introduced its Formula One Driving Standards Guidelines in 2022 to provide clearer guidance on judging racing incidents, which have since been refined with input from drivers and teams. Despite understanding the drivers' concerns, Ben Sulayem questioned whether the same criticisms would arise when the drivers were victorious. He acknowledged the drivers' right to voice their opinions but stressed that not every FIA decision would be popular, as some fans may not agree with the governing body's operations. However, he promised to prioritize fairness for all stakeholders in the sport.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) remains committed to ensuring fairness inFormula One (F1) despite complaints from drivers over stewarding, its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}