(Motorsports news) The quadrupling of the FIA’s maximum penalties was deemed “ridiculous” by Mercedes driver George Russell and GPDA director, given that drivers just starting out in grand prix racing sometimes make far less. “I think it’s pretty ridiculous that a driver could be fined €1m,” he commented before of the US Grand Prix weekend in Austin.

The FIA’s International Sporting Code has increased the maximum fine an F1 competitor can receive from €250,000 to €1 million. The alteration was made because the maximum penalties had remained unchanged in the regulations for the previous 12 years and “does not reflect the current needs of motorsport,” according to the FIA.

“In my first year of Formula One, I was on a five-figure salary and actually lost over six figures from paying for my trainer, flights, and an assistant”, stated Russell. That is most likely the case for 25% of the grid. “We’re doing what we enjoy, so we’re not complaining.” However, if you take a year and one driver loses over €100,000 due to the investments he must make, you fine them a million euros. “What are the chances?” remarked George Russell.

“These figures appear to be plucked from thin air.” “How can a federation just make up these six figure, seven figure fines when there are so many great global issues going on and so much poverty around the world? We’ve previously requested from the FIA to hear where these fines are going, what causes they’re going to,” Russell added. It needs to be reinvested in grassroots, but we’ve had no word on where that’s going.

“If they truly believe a €1m fine is worthwhile and will be reinvested back into the sport, perhaps one of the high-paid drivers is willing to pay that fine.” But it appears disgusting.” The drivers at Thursday’s FIA press conference appeared to have learned about the punishment hike via the media, with Daniel Ricciardo calling it “scary.” “If touching your rear wing is 50k, then I would like to know what one million is,” Verstappen said with a smirk.

“Perhaps we can also sponsor the wine bottles.” “I’ll prepare, Hamilton agreed with teammate Russell that any massive fines will be put to good use farther down the ladder. “When it comes to things like this, we really need to be thinking the message that that sends out to those that are watching,” he said in a statement.

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