FIA raise protest fees by huge amount after contentious Red Bull drama

The FIA has confirmed a major increase in the financial threshold for protests, appeals and reviews in F1, raising the key deposit from €2,000 to €20,000 as part of the 2026 F1 Regulations.

The change follows widespread paddock frustration during the 2025 season, after Red Bull submitted multiple protests targeting Mercedes driver George Russell.

The British driver — and also McLaren — publicly argued that the existing fee was far too low for teams operating with budgets in the hundreds of millions.

Red Bull twice protested Russell during the season — first after the Miami Grand Prix over an alleged failure to slow sufficiently under yellow flags, and later in Canada over the gap Russell left behind the safety car.

Both protests were dismissed by the stewards, but not before causing delays and controversy.

Russell was outspoken about the ease with which protests could be lodged, saying at the time: "If you look at the financial penalties for swearing in the heat of the moment, or touching a rear wing, then €2,000 for a team making nine-figure profits is not even going to touch the side.

"If it was a six-figure sum, maybe they’d think twice. You get your money back if you win the protest anyway, so it’s basically your own insurance."

McLaren CEO Zak Brown also took aim at Red Bull, challenging the team to pursue protests "the right way" rather than through what he described as behind-the-scenes pressure.

During the controversy surrounding tyre-water allegations, Brown said: "If someone genuinely believes something is technically not right, you are free to lodge a protest – but then put your money where your mouth is instead of playing games in the background."

Brown suggested a figure of $25,000 as a meaningful deterrent, even proposing that failed protests should be deducted from a team’s cost cap to discourage speculative accusations.

A clear signal from the FIA

The FIA's final decision falls slightly short of Brown's suggestion but still represents a tenfold increase and will be counted against a team's cost cap.

The motorsport governing body has previously acknowledged that the protest process required review following the backlash from teams and drivers.

The new structure significantly raises the financial risk attached to unsuccessful challenges, while still preserving the right to protest when teams genuinely believe regulations have been breached.

With protests, appeals and reviews now all carrying a €20,000 deposit, Formula 1 teams will be forced to think far more carefully before triggering post-race disputes — exactly the outcome Russell, Brown and others had called for.