Smedley: F1 needs 'augmented' stewarding group to speed up race decisions

Former Ferrari and Williams race engineer Rob Smedley says Formula 1 needs an 'augmented' stewarding group to handle obvious incidents in real time, instead of letting them drag on after the chequered flag.

Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast with Jake Humphrey and former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer, Smedley argued the current FIA stewards are too busy with the race to process every clash live. That is why so many straightforward cases end up as 'investigated after the race' notices.

Why it matters:

F1's officiating has become a recurring frustration. Penalties often arrive long after the action has moved on. A separate group could clear routine incidents almost instantly, leaving race control to focus on live calls and reserving post-race reviews for genuinely complex matters.

The details:

• Smedley says stewards are 'super busy' with the race itself, so they cannot stop the action to deliberate on every clash.
• He suggests an augmented group could process routine incidents much faster, while keeping post-race investigations for complex cases.
• Technical checks still need time: Plank wear, rear wing height, slot gap tolerances and car weight all have to be measured after the race. Smedley acknowledges those cannot be rushed.
• A safety net remains necessary: He wants a provisional result and a chance to right unseen regulation breaches, but not as a default for every minor clash.

What's next:

There is no official FIA move, but the idea adds to the debate about modernizing race control. With the 2026 regulations reset approaching, F1's decision-making processes are likely to face fresh scrutiny.