F1 Drivers Stunned by Million-Euro Fine: Verstappen and Hamilton Speak Out

2023-10-19 20:46:00

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Verstappen pays the FIA, Hamilton issues his conditions!

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F1 drivers were stunned to learn they now face a million-euro fine for possible infractions.

Following a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Geneva, the body confirmed a 300 percent increase in its maximum fine after recognizing that the sanction provided for in the International Sports Code had remained unchanged for many years.

“The ISC had previously determined that the maximum amount of fine that the commissioners can impose was 250,000 euros. This amount has not been reviewed or modified for at least 12 years and does not reflect the current needs of the sports car.”

“The World Council has therefore approved an update of this maximum limit in certain championships as follows: FIA Formula 1 World Championship – 1,000,000 euros; all other FIA world championships – 750,000 euros; all other FIA championships, cups, trophies, challenges or series – 500,000 euros.”

This staggering sum of money naturally sits at the extreme end of the FIA’s sanctioning options, and it would take a serious offense for the governing body to impose such a fine.

Upon hearing of this increase most pilots were stunned.

“It’s a huge amount of money,” said Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

“I have no idea what deserves a million euro penalty, but it’s more than… I mean, some drivers earn less than that.”

Leclerc was not alone in his surprise, with world champion Max Verstappen also expressing his concerns – with the Dutchman fined €50,000 in Brazil in 2021 after hitting Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes F1 car.

“Well, if touching a rear wing costs €50,000, then I’d like to know what €1 million is – then maybe we could also sponsor the bottles of wine they buy with it.”

At Haas F1, relatively low-paid driver Kevin Magnussen was just as surprised.

“I barely know what it’s like to have 1 million euros, but it seems ridiculous.”

“I mean, Charles can give up his watch, but if I got fined like that one day I’d disappear never to be found again.”

Part of the FIA’s motivation for making the increase was the disparity that existed between the amount of fines and the salaries of some of the biggest names in the sport.

Hamilton was fined €50,000, half of which was suspended, for crossing the track in Qatar, a relatively small sum for a driver who, according to Forbes, would earn $65 million this year.

There were also concerns that the fine did not send the right message about the seriousness with which the FIA took into account safety issues such as crossing a track.

While the seven-time world champion admitted responsibility for the Qatar incident, he suggested he was only prepared to pay such large sums of money to progress the sport.

“When it comes to things like this, we really need to think about what message it sends to those watching,” Hamilton said.

“If they have to impose a fine of one million euros, let’s make sure that 100% of that sum goes to a cause.”

“There’s a lot of money in this whole industry and we need to do a lot more in terms of creating better accessibility, better diversity, more opportunities for people who normally wouldn’t have the chance to get involved in a sport like that, across the world.”

“It’s the only way they’re going to get that possible million from me.”

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