Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has called for the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the decision-making process of the sport’s stewards.
This plea comes after the FIA’s admission that they made an erroneous judgment during qualifying, raising concerns about consistency in officiating.
During the crucial Saturday qualifying session, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen found himself under the scrutiny of three separate steward investigations due to his actions on the track.
Verstappen was accused of obstructing other drivers by leaving the pit lane slowly, pausing for an extended period, and impeding two fellow competitors.
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Reflecting on his actions, Verstappen admitted his mistake, saying, “That was not good.
“I didn’t see him because I was on the radio talking about what was the problem.
“And then I didn’t get a call-up until he was basically behind me.
“It basically sums up my qualifying, it was just super hectic and messy.”
However, instead of the expected three-place grid penalty, the stewards opted to give Verstappen a mere reprimand.
Their rationale was based on Red Bull’s failure to inform Verstappen about Yuki Tsunoda’s approach, considering it a mitigating circumstance.
Nevertheless, the stewards have since conceded that they erred in this decision.
Matteo Perini, who served as a steward for both the Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix, met with team bosses in Suzuka and admitted that Verstappen should have received a grid penalty after reviewing the incident.
He emphasised that this case should not serve as a precedent, as the stewards acknowledged their mistake, and future incidents would result in grid penalties.
Hamilton, however, expressed his dissatisfaction with the FIA’s clarification, stating, “Not really.
“How many years have we…
“That rule has been the same for ages, you know?
“I think we need to start looking into AI for this sort of thing, so we get good decisions.”
When asked about the possibility of permanent stewards in Formula 1, the Mercedes driver suggested, “I would like to see whether AI could do a better job or not.”
Two other prominent drivers, George Russell and Carlos Sainz, stopped short of accusing the FIA stewards of favouritism but voiced their concerns about the inconsistency in penalties.
Russell commented, “It was definitely a bit strange to see even Max got away with those reprimands last week.
“We obviously always look for consistency. We appreciate it’s not easy in the best of times, but last week was obviously a bit of a slam dunk.
“So it was strange why it didn’t happen.”
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Sainz added, “It’s just a shame that the guy that is dominating and winning pretty much every race is the only one that gets away with it, while all the others we’ve had penalties this year.
“And when I say everyone, everyone has pretty much had penalties.
“So it’s a bit strange, and yeah, hopefully they learn from it.”