The International Motoring Federation (FIA) tripled the ceiling for fines of up to one million euros ($106 million) for violations of the’sporting code’ on Thursday.
Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Geneva, race stewards, who work independently from the FIA at race meetings, were given far stronger sanctioning powers.
The previous restriction of 250,000 euros, according to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, “did not reflect the current needs of motorsport.”
“The ISC (International Sporting Code) had previously determined that the maximum fine amount that the stewards can impose is 250,000 euros,” the FIA said in a statement.
“This amount has not been reviewed or amended for at least the last 12 years and does not reflect the current needs of motor sport.”
In all past FIA world championships, the maximum sanction was set at 750,000 euros.
In other judgments, the WMSC stated that fireworks will be prohibited at all race meets.
At other races, flares were set off, causing smoke to float across the circuit, while spectators at the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix hurled fireworks onto the track.
“The world council therefore approved new provision and definition in the ISC prohibiting the unauthorised possession and use of pyrotechnics at FIA competitions,” according to a press release.
The modifications were made in response to growing concerns raised by recent events, like the Qatar Grand Prix, in which seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton ran across a ‘live’ track after crashing.
He was fined 50,000 euros, 25,000 of which was suspended. The FIA stated that it was evaluating the decision in light of Hamilton’s status as a role model for the sport.
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