Ahead of Rui Marques\u2019 second season charge as the FIA race-appointed race director in Formula 1, he says he is in the \u201chot seat\u201d but he feels he has the support of the F1 drivers.<\/p>\n
2025 marked Marques\u2019 first full year in charge as Formula 1 race director, but it wasn\u2019t without controversy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut of course, F1 is another level\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
While several calls were called out by drivers and fans alike, Williams took it one further when Carlos Sainz suffered a 10-second penalty plus two penalty points when he collided with Liam Lawson and they clashed. The stewards ruled that Lawson had \u201cthe right to the corner\u201d because his Racing Bulls car was ahead at the apex and penalised Sainz.<\/p>\n
The penalty points were subsequently overturned as the \u201cstewards agree with Williams\u2019 characterisation of the collision as a racing incident\u201d.<\/p>\n
It was, but one moment in the season, in the season in which the stewards and the drivers disagreed.<\/p>\n
From Australia to Abu Dhabi, there were several defining moments in 2025 where Marques and his stewards set the stage.<\/p>\n
Formula 1\u2019s season of change: F1 2026 explained<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49 F1 2026 tech analysed: The future of overtaking and biggest car advantage identified<\/a> Marques, however, believes it was a good season for F1\u2019s judging panel.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been fantastic,\u201d Marques told Motorsport.com.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day, I would say the majority of race directors would dream of this seat. Of course, it\u2019s a hot seat. Let\u2019s make it clear. <\/p>\n \u201cBut saying this, I have a great team with me. It\u2019s not a one-man show.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s five of us in race control. We have more people in Geneva with a secondary race control. There\u2019s a big team behind me. But it has been fantastic. I really enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a race director I completed all the steps. <\/p>\n \u201cIn single-seaters I did all categories: F4, Formula Regional, F3 and F2. I also did touring cars, world endurance, Le Mans, which means I have all that background. <\/p>\n \u201cBut of course, F1 is another level, so the standards are even higher.\u201d<\/p>\n But while the controversial calls made headlines, F1 Grand Prix Drivers Association director Carlos Sainz applauded Marques and his team.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I can only say good things about Rui,\u201d Sainz said late in the season. <\/p>\n \u201cThe way he\u2019s stood up to the job and delivered from the get-go, the way he\u2019s listened to us, the way he\u2019s trying to apply that \u2013 he\u2019s one of the key figures behind us drivers feeling comfortable when someone with good judgement and common sense is leading that role.<\/p>\n \u201cTogether with Tim [Malyon, FIA sporting director], they\u2019ve been doing a very good job and I\u2019m honestly very, very happy with the way they\u2019ve been acting. That\u2019s why the only thing we need to solve at the moment is this situation with the guidelines, the penalties and all that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49 F1 2026 driver line-up: Lewis Hamilton and other drivers confirmed for 2026<\/a><\/p>\n