Before the 2025 season kicks off, the FIA has tweaked several sporting regulations that will affect how races are officiated next year.
One notable change will impact just six of the 24 races on the calendar.
The modification involves Article 15.1 of the 2025 Sporting Regulations, which outlines the officials nominated by the FIA. These include “a minimum of three and a maximum of four stewards,” along with a Race Director and a Permanent Starter.
According to Autosport, most races will stick with three stewards, but six events will feature a panel of four.
Which races get the extra steward? Australia, China, Canada, Singapore, Mexico and Brazil.
This comes at a time when the steward system has become a hot-button issue in Formula 1. Several team bosses and executives have publicly criticized the current setup.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been particularly vocal about his concerns.
One of the main sticking points? Stewards currently work on an unpaid, voluntary basis.
The steward selection process has also raised eyebrows recently. Johnny Herbert was initially confirmed as an FIA steward for the Australian Grand Prix—one of the six races reportedly getting four stewards—only to be suddenly removed from his duties shortly after.
This unexpected dismissal has only added fuel to the ongoing debate about how race officiating should be structured in the sport’s future.
