Former F1 team owner hits out at 'bollocks' race penalties

Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has hit out at recent stewarding decisions, labelling them as “bollocks” and “nonsense”.

Steward decisions have been in the spotlight of late, particularly after Max Verstappen's tactics against Lando Norris at recent events.

The Dutchman was issued a duo of 10-second time penalties for forcing his title rival off the road twice while they battled for position at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Jordan acknowledged the stewards hold a difficult role in F1 - but admitted he never held an interest in taking on the position himself.  

“With regard to the stewards, it’s difficult now, really, really difficult,” Jordan said on the Formula For Success podcast.

“Because, truthfully, I did think it was a ‘jolly’ – I was asked to become a steward once when I’d stopped [in F1]. 

“I don’t know why I didn’t do it, because Emanuele Pirro was one, Derek Warwick was another, and Stefan Johansson.

“There was an endless number of people who were stewards, including Martin Donnelly, and they all enjoyed it, and they said, ‘EJ, you should do that’. And I decided not to and I’m so pleased now that I didn’t!”

Jordan unhappy with F1 stewarding decisions

Personnel in the stewarding room differ from race to race, leading to a call from some of the drivers to implement a consistent team of stewards which may help improve concerns over the handling of on-track decisions.

Jordan stated more frequent meetings between F1 drivers and stewards would result in less “nonsense” time penalties.

“All the drivers should be invited to the meetings, asked what their position is, and ‘Have they got a concern about this’, and ‘What do you think we’re going to do about that?’,” he said.

“I really believe that if the drivers had more contact and more belief in terms of who was actually going to be the steward or it’s the same stewards, time in, time out, then it would be a lot more sensible.

“You would not have the kind of clear, hardcore aggravation that Max has had over ‘Was he over the double line there? Did he push him out there or you didn’t do that there? Why would I get a penalty there and I didn’t get a penalty then?’

“These penalties are bollocks. It’s nonsense. I’m looking up at the screen thinking 'this is a great battle’. 

“The next thing I see, ‘five-second penalty, 10-second penalty’ – it’s so goddamn boring!”