Previously, stewards could only impose drive-through or time penalties on drivers or drop them down the grid if they were deemed to have infringed the rules.
There have been questions asked about why Ryan was allowed to decide what story to tell the stewards without referring to team principal Martin Whitmarsh or his predecessor, McLaren chairman, Ron Dennis.
After all, the institution is a guardian, a trustee to group of very talented teenagers, stewards of their collective minds and body at least while practicing and playing on the field or court.