FIA Announces Key Changes to Stewarding Process for 2026 Season
The FIA has amended its rules to let stewards in F1, F2, and F3 re-open investigations on their own if new evidence emerges, moving beyond the formal 'right of review' process. A new Out-of-Competition Stewards Panel has also been created to handle cases outside of race weekends.
The FIA has approved amendments to its International Sporting Code, granting stewards in F1, F2, and F3 the power to re-examine incidents on their own initiative and creating a new Out-of-Competition Stewards Panel. These changes aim to increase procedural flexibility and address issues outside the immediate context of a race weekend.
Why it matters:
These rule changes represent a significant shift in how racing incidents and off-track conduct are reviewed. By allowing stewards to revisit decisions without a formal 'right of review' request, the FIA aims to correct potential errors more efficiently. The new panel provides a dedicated mechanism to handle complex or time-sensitive cases that span multiple events or occur away from the circuit, potentially leading to more consistent and timely rulings across the championship.
The details:
- Proactive Review Power: Stewards can now independently decide to re-examine an incident if they discover a "significant and relevant new element" that was unavailable when the original decision was made. This removes the previous requirement for a team to formally trigger a 'right of review'.
- Out-of-Competition Panel: A new standing panel has been established to handle alleged breaches that occur outside an event, in time-sensitive situations, or in matters involving multiple events. Stewards at a specific Grand Prix can also delegate a decision to this central panel.
- Governance Context: The amendments were ratified during the FIA General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where Mohammed Ben Sulayem was also re-elected as FIA President, running unopposed for a new term.
What's next:
The updated sporting code will come into effect for the 2026 season. The practical impact will be closely watched, particularly how frequently stewards use their new proactive review powers and how the out-of-competition panel manages its caseload. These changes could lead to more nuanced rulings on complex sporting and disciplinary matters throughout the F1 season.