F1 News: FIA Makes Rule Change To Combat Matters Of Misconduct

The International Sporting Code was modified recently by the FIA.

The FIA has modified rules in the International Sporting Code (ISC) relating to matters of misconduct and safety, after taking into account events in recent years that saw drivers and team bosses express themselves without exercising caution. 

Consequently, the updated version of the rules offers more authority to the governing body to address aspects that were otherwise ignored in the past or incidents where concerned parties were let off without punishment. 

The modification of the ISC comes in the wake of several instances in recent years when certain words uttered by team bosses and drivers caused people to raise their eyebrows, especially when they were addressed toward FIA personnel and the marshals. 

These could be casual utterances that might have spurted out in the heat of the moment under trying situations. But, the FIA intends to discourage such language. There are several examples that can be cited from this year. During the Monaco Grand Prix, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner addressed the FIA stewards as "laymen" after Nico Hulkenberg received a five-second penalty for making contact with Logan Sargeant. 

The most recent controversy, which made a lot of noise, involved Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, who called the stewards a "joke" for handing him a five-second penalty after making contact with Lando Norris. He was eventually let off with a warning for the antic. 

Previously, Article 12.2.1 (k), forbade any ‘misconduct’ aimed at officials, officers or members of FIA staff, organizers or promoters, or doping control officials among others, including suppliers and contractors. Now though, the updated rule simply states that ‘Any misconduct’ will be forbidden. 

In addition, Article 12.2.1 (p) of the ISC prohibits the use of flares in grandstands, especially in Europe. A flare was thrown near the track this year during the Australian Grand Prix, which raised alarms. 

Other rules that were tweaked this year include the shortening of the deadline to submit a right to review by teams from 14 days to 4 days. Lastly, the maximum applicable fine limit that can be levied upon a driver was raised from €250,000 to €1 million, a move that received severe criticism from several drivers.