FIA takes a hard line on F1 driver misconduct: penalties further increased

In the open letter sent on November 7 by the GPDA to the FIA, the drivers participating in the F1 World Championship had asked the International Federation to review the handling of fines and provide greater transparency regarding the allocation of the proceeds from penalties.

The controversy was sparked last autumn by the punishment imposed on Max Verstappen during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, a decision that the drivers criticized with unprecedented unity. The FIA’s response came yesterday with the publication of a new regulation (included in the 2025 International Sporting Code and Appendix B), which is far from an olive branch or, as the drivers requested, an opening to dialogue. It represents a significant crackdown, exposing drivers to financial penalties and, more importantly, one-month suspensions with point deductions in the championship standings.

Article 12 confirms the intention to uphold penalties, particularly concerning “misconduct” such as “the use of offensive, insulting, vulgar, rude, or abusive language (written or verbal), gestures, or actions that could be perceived as rude or cause offense or humiliation.” The FIA has not only formalized these provisions but has also further increased penalties, defining a “base” fine that is multiplied by a coefficient depending on the championship in which the infraction occurs. For F1 drivers, the maximum multiplier is applied, equating to four times the indicated “base” amount.

Committing an infraction classified as “misconduct” includes a base fine of €10,000 (for a first offense), which becomes €40,000 for an F1 driver. If a driver commits a second offense, the base fine rises to €20,000, reaching €30,000 for a third offense, which for an F1 driver translates to €120,000. In this latter case, the penalty also extends to sporting consequences, with a one-month suspension and points deduction from the championship standings.

President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has endorsed the hardline approach, a position likely to stir controversy among drivers and beyond. The risk of incurring a penalty for “misconduct” is tied to “any word, action, or written statement that causes moral damage to the FIA, its bodies, members, or officials and, more generally, to the interests of motorsport and the values upheld by the FIA,” as well as “any public incitement to violence or hatred.”

The same penalties have also been confirmed for “statements or comments of a political, religious, or personal nature that violate the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA, unless they have been previously approved in writing by the International Federation.” Drivers will also be required to publicly apologize for their remarks and retract their comments.

More severe penalties will also be applied for any “failure to follow FIA instructions regarding participation during official ceremonies in any FIA championship.” Teams will also need to pay close attention to the restrictions included in the regulations regarding “protests,” with significant limitations placed on those wishing to file a protest against a decision made by the stewards.

Jan 23, 2025Maria Lombardi

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