The chain of command
Race control, led by the FIA race director, runs the event operationally: flags, safety cars, session stoppages, track limits monitoring. The stewards — a rotating panel including at least one experienced ex-driver — judge incidents and issue penalties. Race control notes an incident; stewards investigate and decide.
Teams can't appeal most in-race decisions, but they can seek a 'right of review' with significant new evidence.
How incidents are judged
Stewards review multiple camera angles, telemetry (steering, throttle, brake traces), GPS lines and team radio before ruling. Standard doctrines exist: the overtaking car must be 'substantially alongside' at the apex to claim space; forcing a car off track earns a penalty; first-lap incidents get more tolerance ('lap-one racing incident').
Verdicts range from 'no further action' through warnings, time penalties, and grid drops — each published with written reasoning.
Why controversy is permanent
Racing incidents are judgment calls at 300 km/h between competing narratives — and every verdict makes one fanbase furious. The sport has responded with more transparency: published decision documents, steward guidelines shared with teams, and driver representation on panels.
Abu Dhabi 2021 remains the reference case for race-control controversy; its aftermath reshaped race direction, introducing rotating race directors and a remote 'virtual race control' support room.