FIA Warns Teams To Avoid Lobbying To The Stewards

F1 teams have been warned with potential punishments in the case they lobby stewards uninvited during the race. In the British GP Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff first tried to sway race director Michael Masi and then went to the stewards in the aftermath of the Hamilton-Verstappen crash in which Verstappen retired from the race. Watching Wolff go to the stewards, Red Bull boss, Christian Horner also landed up in front of them to present Red Bull's side of the story. Now, the FIA has warned punishments for the teams with penalties if this were to be repeated in the future. 

Wolff told Masi that he had emailed him but Masi responded by asking him to see the stewards instead. Horner reacted to Wolff's meeting with the stewards, but post the race claimed that it was highly unacceptable for a team principal to try to intervene in the decision making process. 

"I don't think the stewards should be interfered with. They need to be clear-headed to be able to make those decisions. I went to see the stewards because I'd heard that Toto was up there, presenting a case. You want it to be fair and balanced, and I don't think anybody should be allowed to see the stewards," said Horner. 

He took over as the FIA race director after the death of Charlie Whiting

In a note, Masi to all teams has clarified that access to stewards for anyone other than FIA officials will require prior approval. This is contrary to what he had indicated earlier as he was the one who asked Wolff to go see the stewards. Even before this at the Italian GP in 2020, Lewis Hamilton had gone and met the stewards. 

Masi cites article 12.2.1.I of the FIA international sporting code states, "to follow the instructions of the relevant officials for the safe and orderly conduct of the Event." Sanctions range from a reprimand to disqualification from the race. 

At the British GP, in the aftermath of the crash, Hamilton was given a 10-second penalty, but he still went on to win the race and many believed that the penalty wasn't severe enough.