FIA Updates Penalties for Driver Misconduct in International Sporting Code

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has made significant revisions to the penalties outlined in Appendix B of its International Sporting Code, aiming to reduce potential fines for drivers found guilty of using offensive language. This move follows a series of controversies and calls for change across multiple motorsport categories.

New Regulations for Driver Misconduct

The updated regulations now set a base fine for any misconduct infringements at €5000, a reduction from the previous €10,000. For FIA world championships, where multipliers were involved, the reductions will be even more substantial.

The FIA has also introduced mechanisms for suspended penalties and consideration of mitigating circumstances. Stewards can now suspend penalties for first-time offenders and differentiate between controlled and non-controlled environments. Controlled environments include press conferences and similar settings, while ‘uncontrolled’ comments made while on track are less likely to be punished.

The FIA’s statement emphasizes that any mitigating circumstances will be taken into account by a race’s stewarding team. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed his satisfaction with the changes, stating that they would promote sportsmanship in motorsport while providing stewards with effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute.

Abuse of FIA Officials and Racial Discrimination

The FIA has also clarified that abuse of any FIA officials at an event will now lead to sporting penalties rather than fines. The governing body has stressed that any racial or discriminatory comments will be judged harshly.

Stewards’ Perspective on the Changes

Garry Connelly, F1 stewards chair, expressed his pleasure with the further progress made in the rules and reiterated that stewards would continue to maintain their discretion when being called to judge any future incidents. He added that the revised version of Appendix B will ensure that stewards have effective guidance in place to help them differentiate between on- and off-track issues.

Connelly also emphasized that stewards would continue to maintain the full discretion to consider any mitigating factors to ensure that a penalty is applied fairly to a specific situation, taking into account the circumstances of the driver concerned. These changes aim to make motorsport more accessible and enjoyable for fans of all ages while continuing efforts to grow the sport globally.