Has the FIA gone too far with fines?

From swearing bans, driver protests, and resignations, the FIA have come under fire as of late due to their questionable decision-making on track and around the paddock. It’s a question that countless media outlets and fans have been asking recently: what’s gone wrong with the FIA?

One of the most recent examples saw Carlos Sainz being fined a total of €20,000 for being seconds late to the national anthem in Japan. The Spanish driver had stomach issues (confirmed and medicated by a doctor) which caused him to arrive slightly late to the ceremony. Carlos was outwardly skeptical of the decision when asked about it in a press conference, as were other drivers. Lateness in this regard is considered disrespectful to the host country, but when a medical issue is present, where do we draw the line? It seemed like even more of a reach when his Williams teammate Alex Albon was only fined €7,500 for his arguably dangerous impeding move in FP1 in Bahrain. 

The updated stance on fines from the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association) propelled the drivers back into the conversation, giving power back to the grid, and sparking wider conversation around the subject. George Russell and Carlos Sainz stand as directors for the organisation created to advocate for the drivers and their involvement in the direction/policing of the sport. The GPDA released a statement to social media (see below) and addressed some of the most pressing concerns its members have with the FIA, including: monetary fines, swearing restrictions, and officials scolding drivers in the press. The swearing saga deserves its own essay, and I honestly don’t think I’ve heard one person say they agree with the harsh fines the FIA propose as ‘punishment’. 

A valid point the GPDA brought up in regards to the monetary fines is where does the money go? According to the FIA, the fines collected from drivers and teams mostly goes back into the FIA foundation. This is used to educate and ensure better safety and infrastructure across the motorsport world. The GDPA have noted that the exact areas the collected money goes to are unclear, and have proposed that they (alongside the sport’s stakeholders) should be able to decide where their money goes. 

More chaos ensued recently when the FIA’s Deputy President for Sport resigned, and eventually let loose with his reasons behind his departure. He said: "My resignation is not about personalities; it is about principles. Motorsport deserves leadership that is accountable, transparent, and member-driven. I can no longer, in good faith, remain part of a system that does not reflect those values.”. If there’s anything to suggest the FIA deserves a re-shuffle, it’s moral-based resignations.

It’s clear to the fans, media, drivers, and team staff that there needs to be a change with how the FIA deals with monetary fines. Why is it not clear to the FIA? 

Photo credit: "Rain in Spa. What a #f1 #fia #formula1 #paddock" by stephan_vereno is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.