Stewards Act Like AI:Poncharal Defends Bastianini After Chaos

Tech3 team principal Herve Poncharal has voiced strong criticism of the race stewards’ decision to hand Italian rider Enea Bastianini a double long-lap penalty following the Hungarian Grand Prix in MotoGP.According to Poncharal, the punishment was excessive and unjust, particularly in light of the circumstances surrounding the incidents involving the Ducati rider.

During Saturday’s sprint race, Bastianini was involved in a collision with Fabio Quartararo, which resulted in damage to the ride-height adjustment system on his bike. This technical malfunction subsequently led to a loss of control and a separate incident involving Johann Zarco. Despite the clear mechanical issues, the stewards penalised Bastianini, categorising the situation as a repeat offence under racing regulations.

Poncharal did not hide his discontent, emphasising that such decisions highlight a complete lack of flexibility and contextual understanding on the part of the stewards. He described Bastianini as the "main victim" of the race weekend and criticised the overly rigid application of the rules. “A steward must remain a human being, not a soulless algorithm,” Poncharal remarked. He even drew a comparison with artificial intelligence: “A steward is not ChatGPT, blindly following instructions. One must consider context, emotion, and circumstances not just apply the regulations without reflection.”

The situation worsened in Sunday’s main race, where Bastianini failed to complete even the opening lap due to a heavy crash, fortunately escaping without injury. The incident marked a bitter end to an already difficult weekend for the Italian, raising further concerns about the consistency and fairness of stewarding decisions in the championship.