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George Russell slams FIA over ‘ridiculous’ penalty change
George Russell criticized the FIA for changing their position on a controversial F1 penalty decision. In 2024, the FIA enforced stricter measures against drivers swearing during press conferences or live TV interviews. Max Verstappen received a penalty for swearing at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, leading to increased fines for such behavior. Recently, the FIA reduced penalties for swearing, revising guidelines ahead of the Imola Grand Prix. Russell expressed dissatisfaction with the FIA’s original decision, despite the reductions in penalties. The original punishment for F1 drivers swearing involved a €40,000 fine for a first offense and potential race bans for repeat offenses. The GPDA, led by Russell, and other drivers criticized these guidelines, leading to the FIA revising the penalties. Additionally, fines were increased for drivers inciting violence or hatred in public.
