Russell slams FIA’s ‘obscene’ €1 million fine threat،
AUSTIN, Texas – George Russell says he and his fellow drivers will challenge Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, over the prospect of being fined 1 million euros (1.05 million dollars) in the future.
Ahead of the United States Grand Prix, the maximum fine that can be imposed on drivers has quadrupled, although it is unclear what type of infraction would result in a €1 million penalty.
Russell’s rivals also spoke out against the measure during the media day at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas on Thursday, with his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton saying the only way he could pay such a hefty fine would be if the FIA donates it to a good cause.
After the Qatar Grand Prix two weeks ago, Hamilton was fined €50,000 – €25,000 of which was suspended – for crossing the circuit on foot after crashing at Turn 1.
While Hamilton and world champion Max Verstappen have some of the most lucrative contracts in sport, Russell said much of the grid is paid considerably less.
“I would say there’s probably 40 percent of the network that makes less than that maximum fine,” Russell said. “And that’s the income, not taking into account the expenses, the travel around the world, the people you need on your team. It’s pretty obscene.”
He added: “I think it’s quite ridiculous that a driver can be fined a million euros. In my first year of Formula 1 I had a five-figure salary and I I actually lost over six figures in that first year on paying my coach, paying for flights, paying an assistant, and that’s probably the case for 25% of the grid.
“We do what we love, so we don’t complain about it… But if you take a one-year driver who probably loses over 100,000 at the end of the year because of the investment that he has to pay you a fine of one million, what will happen?
“We have already asked the FIA to find out where these fines are going, what are the causes. This must be reinvested in the base, but so far we have had no answer on the direction it will take. We would like to have some clarity and transparency, and if they really believe that a million euro fine is worth it and that it is going to be reinvested in the sport, then maybe one pilots who are well paid will be happy to pay this fine. . But it seems obscene.”
Russell, director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association [GPDA]said drivers are considering raising the issue with the FIA.
The first chance they will have will be during the drivers’ briefing, organized behind closed doors before each race weekend, on Friday evening.
The first season Russell referred to was when he was driving at Williams. Alex Albon, who replaced him on the team in 2022, was informed of the fine during his media session on Thursday.
“I don’t think they know what our salaries are,” Albon replied, shocked.
Albon reiterated what Russell said about the financial burden on many drivers, particularly towards the back of the grid.
“I wonder how this is going to happen because I think there is such unknown knowledge of the sacrifices F1 drivers make. We are very popular people, we travel a lot around the world, we get noticed a lot , we need a group of people around us in many cases.
“But I think people wouldn’t realize – especially in the first two, three or four years as a Formula 1 driver – that the salaries are nothing like what people actually think. I’m sure “You probably know a little more than most people do, but it would be a heavy penalty if you had to go into debt.”
