Lewis Hamilton calls for ‘non-biased’ stewards in Formula One

Lewis Hamilton believes Formula One’s stewards are biased and has demanded action is taken ahead of the new season.

The 37-year-old British driver was back on track, two months and 11 days after he was denied a record-breaking eighth world championship, for the first day of winter testing at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

Since the deeply controversial Abu Dhabi finale, the FIA has acted by firing Michael Masi – the man who bent the rules and allowed Max Verstappen the chance to take the title following a late safety car – in a revamp of race control.

But Hamilton now says the sport’s governing body must turn its attention to the stewards’ room.

Four officials from a rotating pool steward every Grand Prix and at least one of those will be a driver who has raced at a competitive level.

Vitantonio Liuzzi, who competed for Red Bull in 2005 and then its sister team, formerly Toro Rosso, in 2006 and 2007, was employed by the FIA at four of the 22 races last year. Former British driver Derek Warwick was also used on a number of occasions.

“We need to make sure we have non-biased stewards,” said Hamilton.

“Some of the former race drivers, who are now stewards, are very good friends with certain individuals, some travel with certain individuals, and tend to take more of a keen liking to them.

“So people who have no bias, are going to be super-central when it comes to making decisions.”

However, in a rare moment of unity, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his Red Bull rival Christian Horner refuted Hamilton’s suggestion.

“I don’t think it is a conscious bias,” said Wolff. “The stewards are intelligent people.

“But there needs to be a standard. This is what we deserve and this is what we expect.

“The most important topic