by Formula 1 must employ full-time stewards to simplify the sport’s rules, says Zak Brown.
McLaren CEO believes current rules are “too regulated” and “too complicated”.
Brown suggested paying stewards, who are currently unpaid volunteers, and giving them access to more technology to make the right decisions in high-profile incidents.
This season, McLaren’s Lando Norris has been involved in back-to-back controversial on-track battles with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, with both men penalized for separate incidents at the United States and Mexico Grands Prix.
“I think we need full-time stewards,” Brown told BBC Sport. “I don’t think the way we’re set up as a sport allows us to be successful.”
Verstappen made similar comments to BBC Sport on Thursday, saying: “Do I think the consistency in sanctions could be better? Yes, of course, but that only comes with paid stewards – professional stewards. “
“The commissioners we have now are doing the best they can, but in a sport like this, as in other sports, when you have a paid board of commissioners, it works much better.”
In Austin, Norris was given a five-second penalty for leaving the track and taking the lead while trying to overtake Verstappen. The Briton refused to give up the position after Verstappen complained, emphasizing that he was leading at the top. The stewards, however, disagreed with Norris.
Many drivers have made it clear that they feel Verstappen’s driving was unfair in Austin and have told the FIA that the racing guidelines need to be changed to account for the type of tactics employed by the Dutchman.
A week later in Mexico, the two drivers clashed again, with Verstappen receiving a combined 20-second penalty for two incidents with Norris on the same lap. Norris called Verstappen’s driving “dangerous” and again pointed out that he was ahead of the three-time world champion in the corner during the first tussle.
“I think we need to take a step back and not over-regulate what happens on the track. We’ve never done that in Formula 1,” Brown said.
“I think we race too much by the rules now compared to the good old races – you just have to give the stewards a little more discretion. They have raced, they know whether a driver was pushed back or not, or made a slot, or not. And not having this black and white rule book.
However, Brown says he has confidence in the governing body’s president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, following the departures of senior FIA officials over the past year.
Race director Niels Wittich, who will replace Michael Masi in 2022, left his role with immediate effect on November 12, less than a month before the end of the season.
Wittich is said to have “resigned”, but he told BBC Sport last week: “I can confirm that I was made redundant and that it was not my decision to leave F1.” The German was replaced this weekend at the Las Vegas Grand Prix by Rui Marques.
“He doesn’t mess around. He makes decisions,” Brown said of Ben Sulayem. “I think we were surprised by this decision, more so by the timing.”
McLaren leads the constructors’ standings with 36 points with three races remaining and Brown says “it would be incredible” if the team could win their first team title since 1998.
“It’s hard to believe it was so long ago,” he added. “That’s why we’re here. We’re here to win world championships.”
