Hill to join stewards' panel at two races

In a new innovation for this year, a former driver will join the three regular stewards at each race to help make decisions on penalties and similar issues. The move is in response to criticism that the permanent stewards did not have sufficient insight into driving F1 cars when judging controversial incidents.

Four-time world champion Alain Prost is filling the driver's role on the panel at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, and the FIA's deputy president for sport Graham Stoker said today that 1996 title-winner Hill was likely to participate at two races as well.

"Damon Hill has agreed to do two events," Stoker said. "It is likely he's going to do Monaco and another one, and we've got a range of other drivers who positively have said they will come along and help us."

Hill contested 115 grands prix for Brabham, Williams, Arrows and Jordan between 1992 and 1999. He has since become the president of Silverstone circuit owner the British Racing Drivers' Club.