Jos Verstappen makes 'strict' FIA stewards plea

Jos Verstappen has called for "stricter" and more consistent penalty application from the FIA stewards in F1, questioning why the same offence sometimes attracts differing levels of punishment.

The Dutchman claims he has spoken to the championship's CEO Stefano Domenicali about the matter.

Last season, his son, Max Verstappen, was handed what is akin to community service for swearing during an official FIA press conference, whilst Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was only issued a fine for doing the same.

Although the governing body did provide context and an explanation for those decisions and the differing verdicts, Verstappen Sr. was nonetheless critical of the approach.

"I also discussed this with Stefano Domenicali," he told Dutch website Formule1.nl. "The stewards simply have to punish consistently. The same for everyone.

"Not one time a five-second time penalty and the next time a ten-second time penalty for the same offence.

"And why did Max get a community service order for the word Fuck and another a fine [in reference to Charles Leclerc's penalty]?

"The stewards don't know what to do anymore. I think there should be stricter rules in that area."

Permanent - and fully-paid - stewards

The 52-year-old believes that a permanent pool of stewards would go some way to remedying the current problems within the FIA's officiating of F1.

Although an ex-F1 driver himself, Verstappen does not feel it is appropriate for former F1 drivers to make up part of the stewards panel.

Johnny Herbert, who raced against Verstappen in the 1990s and early 2000s, has been at the centre of recent stewarding controversies linked to the younger Verstappen, having also been critical of his driving outside the stewards' room. It is a potential conflict of interest Verstappen Sr. does not want to see in F1.

"It would help if there was a permanent pool of stewards," said Verstappen Sr. "And no more former Formula 1 drivers, but just people who have more distance and fewer interests, but who at the same time understand what the sport entails.

"With the same stewards every time, you will also get more of the same decisions. More consistency, that is simply better. It is up to the FIA. They have to step up their professionalism."

On the subject of professionalism, Verstappen identified that area as key to improved standards, arguing the FIA can learn from FIFA on that front.

"Choose a pool of permanent stewards and pay and value them well," he added. "Now they get a small amount to be at a race and some do it because they can use the money. But I think you have to find people who are not dependent on that at all.

"In football you have FIFA referees, they get training and courses and are paid well. That should also be the case in Formula 1 of course. In this area the FIA ​​can still learn a lot from FIFA."