The 2025 championship has sparked a heated debate regarding the FIA’s decision-making process, specifically concerning penalties, timing, and overall consistency. It has frequently occurred that in two identical racing situations, occurring at different times, the resulting penalties did not match. Naturally, this leads to unfair punishments for some drivers and undue advantages for others, highlighting a significant lack of uniformity and clarity in both judgment and the rulebook.
Steiner takes aim at the FIA
Guenther Steiner, speaking on the Red Flags podcast, took the opportunity to criticize this ongoing behavior, stating: “They need to be consistent, and I will not stop until they change things, or until I die.”
“Now the FIA has the opportunity to do things the right way and become the rockstars of next year, especially because with the new Concorde Agreement they received a lot of money to fix the situation. It is up to the FIA to resolve the problem,” he continued.
The aforementioned Concorde Agreement, signed in December 2025, will be in effect from 2026 until 2030. It stipulates—by agreement between the FIA, the teams, and Formula 1—that more funds will be invested into race direction, stewards, marshals, and operational services to improve the standard of officiating.
Guenther Steiner also reflected on the controversial season finale to illustrate his point: “What we saw in the last race in Abu Dhabi was: ‘Oh, we have to give a penalty to Yuki regarding Lando, not give one to Lando, and then whoever skidded once got a penalty so we look consistent.’ It was too little and too late, guys… there is a much bigger picture to consider,” Steiner concluded.
The penalty handed to Yuki Tsunoda in Abu Dhabi remains highly controversial, particularly as it had a tangible impact on the World Championship standings. However, beyond this single incident, the sport has witnessed numerous inconsistencies in FIA decisions throughout recent years. These discrepancies often leave fans and teams frustrated, questioning the transparency of the sport’s governing body.
As Formula 1 enters a new era with radical technical changes in 2026, the hope is that this updated administrative chapter will finally bring the stability and fairness that the pinnacle of motorsport requires. Whether the increased funding translates into better on-track adjudication remains the big question for the upcoming season.
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