15/05/2025 16:45
George Russell has criticised the FIA for its initial "ludicrous"
changes to Appendix B of the International Sporting Code (ISC),
following the announcement that adjustments would be made to weaken
a breach of them. Appendix B of the ISC covers the rules against
drivers swearing, which were heightened ahead of the season. The
FIA had substantially increased the punishment a driver would face
for swearing, which included fines and a potential race ban. It
triggered outrage from the drivers, with motorsport's governing
body having now reduced the severity of a breach of Appendix B.
Possible fines have been reduced by 50%, whilst the stewards can
suspend the penalty for a first offence. Russell, a director of
the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, remains frustrated that the
rules against drivers swearing was altered in the first place. When
asked by RacingNews365 for his thoughts on the changes to Appendix
B, Russell replied: "Well, I feel the [initial] changes should have
never happened in the first place. "So we're talking about a
situation where things have been reverted, because it was a little
bit ludicrous in the first place. Of course, we're happy to see
things go back to how they should be, but it should never have been
there in the first place, if that makes sense. "So it feels a bit
wrong to be thanking the changes, when we shouldn't have been in
that place to begin with. "So yeah, it's a bit of a strange
predicament, and we've still had no correspondence with anyone from
senior level FIA. So yeah, it's all a bit suspect." No FIA dialogue
When FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that changes to
Appendix B were being considered, it was outlined that drivers in
all seven FIA world championships had been heard. However, as
highlighted by Russell, discussions are yet to take place with Ben
Sulayem. Remarkably, the FIA president and the drivers are often in
the same paddock, yet creating dialog remains a challenge. "Yeah,
that's a good question," said Russell, following a question over
why the drivers cannot meet the FIA president at a grand prix,
given most are attended by him. "It seems more challenging than it
should be really. But we've all put our views forward, I wouldn't
say it's gotten to a point of no return, but you at least want to
see willingness from the other party. "I think we feel we've put in
our views forward, and we want to have conversations and dialogue,
and there's only so much you can ask. So, yeah, it's got to be
mutual. It's got to come from both directions."
