McLaren F1 chief Zak Brown slams FIA failure after brutal AXE

zak brown, mclaren, fia — Photo: © IMAGO

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McLaren chief slams FIA failure after brutal F1 AXE

Zak Brown has waded into the debate over the FIA's stewards

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Wednesday 29 January 2025 22:01 Updated: 14:27

McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, has slammed the FIA’s failure following their decision to axe Formula 1 steward Johnny Herbert.

The FIA announced that Herbert would be stepping down from his role as an F1 steward in 2025, after it was ‘mutually’ agreed that his work within the organisation and role as a pundit were ‘incompatible’.

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Herbert’s axe follows Jos Verstappen’s protest that the former F1 driver possessed a ‘conflict of interest’, after he presided over Max Verstappen’s 20-second-time penalty at the Mexican Grand Prix last season.

However, the dismissal has sparked a debate on how the FIA approach their system in F1, with Brown slamming the failure of the organisation to provide consistent stewarding.

Johnny Herbert will no longer be an F1 steward in 2025

Zak Brown's McLaren team won the constructors' in 2024

Click here to shop the 2024 FIA Formula 1 Constructors' Champions Collection and celebrate McLaren's first title in 26 years.

Brown calls for FIA to introduce permanent F1 stewards

The McLaren boss discussed F1’s stewarding system during an appearance at the Autosport Business Exchange, where he stated that F1 could not be successful unless they used full-time stewards.

"The biggest thing we need to do is approach the stewarding system," said Brown.

"To have part-time, unpaid stewards in a multi-billion-dollar sport where everything is on the line to make the right call...It is a technical job and when you get it right, no one says ‘great job’. But I don’t think we are set up for success by not having full-time stewards.

"The individuals are fine but the rulebook is too restrictive.

"I’d like us to take a step back, loosen it up. Have full-time stewards who can make more of a subjective decision of whether that was right or wrong.

Zak Brown has called for full-time F1 stewards

"As far as paying for the stewards, this will probably be unpopular amongst my fellow teams.

"I'm happy if McLaren and all the racing teams contribute. It's so important for the sport.

"It can't be that expensive if everybody contributes. It's not going to break the bank."

Rui Marques (R) is the current FIA race director

Despite his issues with the current system, Brown admitted he did not understand the full relationship between the FIA and F1.

"What I don’t know is what’s the relationship contractually between the FIA and Formula 1 as far as what's the level of expectations on stewarding," he added.

"But at the end of the day, the agreement says part-time stewarding is not paid."

"So if we have to pay for it, in the big scheme of things I do not think it will be a significant amount."

Written by

Sheona Mountford - F1 Journalist

Sheona Mountford is a motorsport journalist specialising in F1. As a writer and contributor, she covers a wide range of motorsport series from F1 to F1 Academy, responsible for breaking news, live race coverage and in depth analysis of the sport and the culture around it.

View full biography

Max Verstappen FIA Zak Brown Mexican Grand Prix Jos Verstappen Johnny Herbert