FIA approve major change to SIX races in 2025 F1 calendar as rule altered just weeks before new season

The FIA have approved a major change to six races on the 2025 calendar ahead of the new F1 season, it has been reported.

The 2025 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Albert Park, Melbourne on March 16.

Other than several changes to the order, the race calendar comprises of the same 24 Grands Prix as the 2024 season, with Abu Dhabi closing out proceedings in December.

But the FIA have now decided to make a significant change to six races throughout the season.

According to Autosport, the FIA have changed the way that stewarding will work, with a maximum of four stewards in use at six Grands Prix instead of the usual three.

Albert Park will host the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix (Image: Getty)

One of those four stewards will be appointed as chairman, it is added, from a pool of FIA Super Licence holders.

The FIA Super Licence is different to the one awarded to drivers, who have to perform strongly in other series before they are able to race in Formula 1.

The new rule will only apply to Grands Prix in Australia, China, Canada, Singapore, Mexico and Brazil, Autosport have reported.

Article 15.1 of the FIA's Sporting Regulations now reads: "A minimum of three and a maximum of four stewards, one of whom will be appointed chair." The remainder of the regulations relating to stewarding remain the same.

The six races in question are said to be those deemed as 'high workload' by the FIA, who have collated data from races and incidents during 2024.

It is claimed that the decision will allow the extra member to 'perform initial reviews and collate evidence to be considered after incidents', as per Motorsport.com.

Johnny Herbert will no longer serve as an FIA driver steward this season after he parted company with the sport's governing body in February.

Johnny Herbert pictured during the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix race weekend (Image: Getty)

The FIA stated that his current roles as a media pundit are now 'incompatible' with his driver steward role.

It was reported that his partnership with a betting company - where he comments on decisions made by the FIA, with these comments then sent to media agency - had 'drawn significant interest'.

Herbert made controversial comments on incidents involving Lando Norris and Max Verstappen - in particular the 20-second penalty given to Verstappen at the Mexican Grand Prix, a race weekend during which the Brit was on the stewarding panel.