Lewis Hamilton and many of his fellow Formula 1 drivers did not react well to new that the FIA had quadrupled the limit for how much they can be fined by the stewards
After the World Motor Sport Council approved a significant increase in the amount Formula 1 teams and drivers can be fined, Toto Wolff said the FIA needs a “reality check.”
The International Sporting Code stated that a fine of up to 250,000 euros (£218k) could previously be imposed. However, that sum has been quadrupled to one million euros (£871k) for F1 drivers.
The news was unexpected for Mercedes team owner Wolff. He told reporters in Austin, “There needs to be some kind of deterrent for serious violations of the regulations, but none of that was on anyone’s radar, that it would be coming.”
I think a million, we need to do a reality check with real life, whether that is an adequate fine or not. I don’t think we’ve ever fined a driver 250,000 euros, so raising the ceiling is something that one needs to understand where it comes from.
We don’t want to portray Formula 1 out there in the world where it’s tough enough [already], to give drivers fines of a million, I think half of the grid wouldn’t be able to pay them. I don’t think it is adequate considering… I don’t think we should be playing around with those numbers that seem very surreal to people who are watching us.”
In a statement issued by the governing body, it was asserted that the fine limit “has not been reviewed nor amended for at least the last twelve years”, and that the previous limit “does not reflect the current needs of motor sport”.
But the move sparked an angry response from drivers, including Lewis Hamilton who declared he will not be paying unless the FIA pledges to funnel all the cash made into positive projects. “When it comes to things like this, we really need to be thinking [about] the message that that sends out to those that are watching,” he said.
If they are going to be fining one million euros, let’s make sure that 100 percent of that goes to a cause. There’s a lot of money in this whole industry and there’s a lot more that we need to do in terms of creating better accessibility, better diversity, more opportunities for people who don’t or wouldn’t normally have a chance to get into a sport like this – so many causes around the world. That’s the only way they’ll get that million from me.”
The other drivers struggled to conceal their shock at the magnitude of the increase from Hamilton. It’s a significant sum of money, Charles Leclerc said. “I don’t know what would warrant a fine of a million euros, but it’s more than… I mean, some drivers make less than that,” the speaker said.
Max Verstappen made a joke about the fine he received for touching Lewis Hamilton’s car’s rear wing during the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix. Then perhaps we can sponsor the wine bottles as well, he said, “Well, if touching a rear wing is 50,000 euros, then I would like to know what one million is.”