F1 News: George Russell Calls For FIA To Consider "Global Issues" Amid Rising Driver Fines

The Mercedes driver believes there are more important issues to look at.

Mercedes driver George Russell thinks that there are more important "global issues" to focus upon than money matters after the FIA raised the maximum driver fine limit to €1 million.

Recently, the FIA increased the maximum potential fine ceiling that can be levied upon a driver from €250,000 to €1 million since it had “not been reviewed nor amended for at least the last 12 years and does not reflect the current needs of motorsport".

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However, Russell has questioned the need for major fines for Formula 1 drivers when other serious global issues need addressing. Fortunately, no driver has received the maximum fine yet, but the governing authority's decision to increase the limit was criticized by many drivers on the grid.

In recent times, some of the heaviest fines levied upon drivers include a €50,000 fine handed out to Max Verstappen two years ago after he touched Lewis Hamilton's rear wing in Brazil when the car was in parc ferme conditions. Hamilton was also not spared for a similar amount when he was fined for walking on a live race track after crashing out of the Qatar Grand Prix, although half of the amount was suspended for twelve months.

Condemning the rule by stating that there are other global issues that need attention, Russell told RacingNews365:

“We just want transparency and understanding.

“I think already the fines are getting out of control. You know how Verstappen got fined €50,000 for touching a car, Lewis being fined €50,000 (for crossing the track in Qatar, although half was suspended for 12 months).

“It feels like these numbers have been plucked out of the air.

“There's a lot of greater global issues going on. So much poverty around the world. [I don't understand] how a federation can just make up these fines of six figures, seven-figure fines.”

Drivers may incur fines for exceeding the pit lane speed limit during the race weekend, with an additional €100 for each km/h over the limit. Additionally, there is a fee for the Super Licence, comprising a base amount of €10,400 plus an extra €2,100 for each point earned in the previous championship. Russell mentioned that in some cases, teams cover these expenses as specified in the driver's contract. He added:

“It's very dependent on the personal contracts, but it's the same with the Super License.

“Some drivers are paying their own Super License and some drivers, the teams are covering it.

“I would say there's probably 40 per cent of the grid are making less than this maximum fine [of €1m].

"That's income and not taking into consideration the outgoings, the travelling around the world the people you need as part of your team. It's pretty obscene.”