FIA reveal significant update to controversial rule change

The FIA has confirmed it has made changes to a controversial rule in the International Sporting Code (ISC).

A fresh addition to the rules this year granted the governing body the power to hand drivers heavy fines, race bans or a loss of championship points if found guilty of violating the regulations.

Drivers could be handed such punishments if they inflicted "moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers" or carried out any "misconduct".

It sparked backlash between drivers and the FIA, with Max Verstappen hinting his muted answers at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after he received a penalty were a result of the rule change.

Ben Sulayem recently communicated he was “considering making improvements to Appendix B”.

Those changes have now been pushed through. Significantly, the update includes changing the punishment for abusing an official from a fine to a sporting penalty. 

The FIA has outlined for F1, F2, F3 and Formula E, the penalty will be as follows;

• if committed by a driver during competition (except in Sprint Session or Race): minimum 3 grid place penalty at the next race
• if committed by a team member during competition (except in Sprint session or Race): minimum 3 grid place penalty for both cars at the next race
• if committed during Sprint Session or Race by a driver or team member: minimum 5-second time penalty for the driver (subject to escalation if needed).

The FIA detailed that “if permitted by the regulations of the Championships, cups, trophies, challenges or series regulations, alternative penalties (instead of fines) may also be apply, such as loss of practice time, or requiring the driver to dedicate an hour to FIA promotional activities at an event.”

For swearing, a sticking point between drivers and the FIA in recent months, the governing body has established a difference between a controlled and non-controlled environment.

Controlled Environment: includes media conferences, interviews and podiums, and in rallies, the ceremonial start and service park. 

Non-Controlled Environments: includes radio transmissions between car and team, recordings made while on circuit, on a rally stage, or on a rally road section, as well as at the end of a rally stage. It may also cover recordings made outside of controlled environments, particularly where the person recorded may not be aware they are being recorded.

Elsewhere, base maximum penalty has been reduced from €10,000 to €5,000, a reduction of 50%.

Stewards now have the option to fully suspend a penalty for certain types of breaches, but only if it is the first offence by the driver or team.

The FIA is unmoved on matters relating to racial and discriminatory comments, insisting they will “continue to be addressed firmly”.

Reacting to the fresh changes, FIA president Ben Sulayem is confident a compromise has been struck.

“As a former rally driver, I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition,” he said.

“I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships, FIA Member Clubs and other motor sports organisations.

“The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving Stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute. 

“The FIA will always be committed to ensuring motor sport is accessible for all our sporting family.”