George Russell has branded the FIA “ridiculous” and called its decision to raise driver fines to €1million “obscene”.
Formula One’s governing body announced it was quadrupling the maximum fine available to be handed to a driver from €250,000.
It did not specify what F1 driver indiscretion might warrant the €1m penalty in its revised international sporting code.
Russell said: “I think it’s pretty ridiculous that a driver could be fined €1m.
“We just want transparency and understanding. I think already the fines are getting out of control. Max Verstappen being fined €50,000 for touching a car.
“It feels like these numbers are being plucked out the air. How can a federation just make up these six figure, seven-figure sums? It seems obscene.”
Russell’s annoyance over the dramatic rise in potential driver fines was echoed by the rest of the grid.
His Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton said: “We do need to be thinking about the message that sends out to those watching. If they are going to be fining a million, let’s make sure 100 per cent goes to a good cause.
“There is a lot of money in this industry and there is a lot more we need to do in terms of creating better accessibility and diversity. That’s the only way they’ll get that million from me.”
