F1 must ensure it has unbiased stewards - Hamilton
The FIA has announced major changes to the way race control will be run for the 2022 season in the wake of last year’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Michael Masi replaced by two race directors who will alternate the role. Extra support will be provided by a new Virtual Race Control Room that has been likened to football’s VAR system.
Hamilton, who lost out on the 2021 world title to Max Verstappen when Masi failed to implement the rules correctly during a late Safety Car period in Abu Dhabi, highlighted concerns that some stewards show too much bias towards particular drivers.
“We need to make sure we get non-biased stewards,” Hamilton said during a press conference on the first day of F1 pre-season testing in Barcelona.
“Racing drivers, some are very, very good friends with certain individuals. Some travel with certain individuals, and tend to take more of a keen liking to some of them.
“I think we [just need] people who have no bias and are super central when it comes to making decisions.”
The seven-time world champion also called for more diversity in the stewards’ room and would like to see more women involved.
“I want to see more women in the stewards’ room,” he said. “I think maybe last year we had one or two and I think it would be awesome for them to have a male and a female as the two race directors, for the two race directors I think they are talking about doing.
“I think that’s a great way of promoting diversity too.”
And Hamilton was in no mood to revisit the controversial events of the 2021 finale.
When asked if he feels he is owed an apology from the FIA, Hamilton replied: “I feel like I’ve addressed pretty much everything that I needed and wanted to address last week, and I don’t really have any more to add to it.
"I’m here to solely focus on my job now, which is getting on top of this new car and new regulations and moving this team forward. There’s no point looking back or commenting on any of it. It’s done, dusted, so we move forwards.”
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for Crash.net around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
