FIA raises maximum fine for F1 competitors to €1M!

F1 entrants that put themselves in breach of FIA sporting regulations may now be handed a fine as high as 1 million euros by the Stewards.

Previously, officials could hit a competitor with a financial penalty of maximum €250,000.

But the governing body deemed that it was time for an adjustment because the upper limit for fines “has not been reviewed nor amended for at least the last 12 years and does not reflect the current needs of motor sport.”

While the €1 million threshold applies to Formula 1, the FIA also set new upper limits for all the world championships that it sanctions.

The limit has been set at €750,000 for the World Rally, World Rally-Raid, World Endurance, World Rallycross and Formula E championships, and at €500,000 for all other FIA championships, cups, trophies, challenges or series.

• Read also: FIA to take second look at Hamilton's Qatar 'track walk"

The fines may be levied upon all FIA competitors, meaning a team a driver or even a promoter.

As a reminder, seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton was handed his first reprimand of the season, and fined 50,000 euros (half suspended) for crossing a live track at the Qatar Grand Prix.

The decisions were voted following the latest meeting of the FIA's World Motorsport Council event in Geneva.

At the same session, the FIA also announced a clampdown on the unauthorised use of pyrotechnics, such as flares, at its motorsport events.

“In October 2022, the Council of the European Union stressed the need to prevent and counter the use of pyrotechnics at sports venues,” it noted.

“Following review of the situation in motor sport, it has been concluded that the unauthorised use of all pyrotechnical devices at races can pose significant public health and safety risks and, as such, should be prevented and countered.

“The World Council therefore approved new provision and definition in the ISC prohibiting the unauthorised possession and use of pyrotechnics at FIA competitions.”

In other changes to F1's sporting regulations, Pirelli has been granted 40 days of tyre testing in 2024 up from 35 days in 2023.

Additionally, the FIA is authorized to organize up to four extra days of testing per team to facilitate research into spray reduction techniques in wet weather.

In other words, Pirelli will have more time to develop and test its tyres for the 2025 season, and teams will have more opportunities to work on reducing the spray that is generated by cars in wet weather.

This is a positive development for both teams and drivers, as it should lead to safer and more competitive racing.

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