F1 stewards sometimes hand out verdicts that frustrate fans. At the end of this season, which penalties were fair and which were not?
The 2025 season ended under tension, and not just on track. F1 steward verdicts often generated as much debate as the spectacular overtakes. A specialized website even collected fan votes on the latest races. The study revealed which F1 penalties fans considered fair and which they strongly contested.
Brazil, a mix of collisions and mixed decisions
The Brazilian Grand Prix was full of incidents. During the sprint, Oliver Bearman and Liam Lawson collided several times. Bearman then received a five-second penalty for forcing Lawson off track. 64% of voters judged this decision correct, while 23% found it too harsh.
Lawson, for his part, received the same sanction after contact at Curva do Lago. Yet, 35% of fans considered the penalty appropriate, while 35% thought it too strict. This shows a huge nuance in how fans view F1 steward verdicts.
Other similar penalties in Brazil
Oscar Piastri also made headlines after a collision with Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The incident happened during the restart and involved Charles Leclerc. Piastri received a five-second penalty. However, the public heavily criticized this decision. Indeed, 53% of voters found it too harsh, while only 20% deemed it correct.
Conversely, Yuki Tsunoda was involved in a collision with Lance Stroll at the same Grand Prix. The Japanese F1 driver received the same sanction. Yet, 88% of fans considered the stewards’ verdict fair.
Lewis Hamilton also received a five-second penalty for hitting Franco Colapinto. The majority considered this penalty appropriate. In this case, the debate was far less pronounced than for Piastri.
Las Vegas and F1 steward verdicts
The Las Vegas GP began with a collision between Lawson and Piastri, which did not result in a penalty. According to RaceFans data, 43% of voters supported the decision not to penalize the drivers. On the other hand, 51% would have preferred a sanction for Lawson.
Gabriel Bortoleto, meanwhile, caused a collision with Lance Stroll at the start. He was then handed a five-place grid drop. 80% of fans judged this sanction correct. Then there was Alexander Albon, who received five seconds for contact with Hamilton. This decision was more controversial. Only 29% considered it fair, while 51% thought it too harsh.
Abu Dhabi, trajectory control and controversial moves
In Abu Dhabi, F1 stewards again made headlines with their verdicts. They first penalized Lawson for “erratic” driving in front of Bearman. Fans widely approved this decision (71%).
They then accused Tsunoda of changing lines several times to hinder Lando Norris. The Japanese driver received a penalty, which 58% of voters judged correct. Norris’ overtake on Tsunoda, however, received no penalty. 68% of fans approved of this choice.
Who else received a penalty from F1 stewards?
Later, Stroll and Bearman were punished for altering their trajectory in front of other drivers. 45% of fans judged the decision fair for Bearman and 41% for Stroll. This shows that opinions remain divided on this type of tactical incident at the end of a race.
This end of the season highlights how stewardship in Formula 1 remains a sensitive topic. F1 stewards must balance sporting fairness and consistency in their verdicts. At the same time, they work under the watchful eyes of fans and media, ready to judge every decision. RaceFans votes show that even with the best intentions, some penalties will continue to divide opinion.
