23/07/2025 09:15
The Formula 1 commission has agreed to evaluate the deposit fees
for "protests, appeals and right of reviews", as well as expanding
the circumstances under which fees might be required. Specifically,
it discussed the introduction of a fee for investigations as well
as the discussions centred on the adjustment of existing fees. Held
on 22 July, it was the third F1 commission meeting of the season,
chaired by FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis and Formula
1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali. The matter has come to the
fore in the wake of Red Bull's protest of George Russell at the
recent Canadian Grand Prix. Currently set at €2,000 per protest,
the Mercedes driver argued a "six-figure sum" should be required in
an attempt to dissuade speculative action. "When you look at the
financial penalties for using swear words in the heat of the
moment, or touching a rear wing, €2,000 for a team making
nine-figure profits is not even going to touch the side," he said
at the time. "If it was a six-figure sum to be put down, maybe they
would think twice about it, and you do get your money back if you
win a protest, so it is basically your own risk," he added.
"Whereas, at the moment, €2,000 for a Formula 1 team is not even a
consideration." Although the second time in recent months Red Bull
has filed a protest aimed at Russell, the first coming at the Miami
Grand Prix. The one in Montreal, however, caused a significant
stir, as it delayed the FIA confirming the final results of the
race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - a victory for the British
driver over Max Verstappen - for over five hours. In the four-time
grand prix winner's opinion, it was "pretty clear" the subsequent
investigation by the stewards would not result in a penalty and a
change in the results. "It was nothing, and it all came from Red
Bull, as opposed to Max, I don't think he was even aware of the
protests," Russell argued. "It was pretty clear that there was not
going to be any penalty, and my personal view is that they wanted
to go and be offensive to protect Max in case he got a penalty for
going ahead of me during the safety car incident. "My personal view
is that it was just a bit of a faff and not really necessary." In
the FIA's media statement following the F1 commission meeting, it
confirmed: "It was agreed that the deposit fees for protests,
appeals and right of reviews should be evaluated with a view to
those fees being adjusted. The introduction of a fee for
investigations was also discussed." The final sentence is related
to an issue that became pertinent after McLaren Racing CEO Zak
Brown took aim at Red Bull earlier in the year, with the Milton
Keynes squad pushing for the reigning constructors' champions to be
investigated over its novel brake and tyre cooling solution.
