Motorsports
The cost of complaints in Formula 1 has increased 10 times
The FIA has officially confirmed a significant increase in the cost of filing protests, appeals and requests for review in Formula 1 from the 2026 season. According to the new regulations, the contribution fee will increase from 2,000 Euros to 20,000 Euros and will be included in the teams’ budget limit.
The decision follows a wave of criticism after Red Bull made several protests against Mercedes driver George Russell during the 2025 season. After the Miami and Canadian Grand Prix both cases were dismissed by the stewards but caused delays and chaos in the paddock.
Russell and McLaren management have repeatedly emphasized that the upfront deposit is too low for teams with multimillion-dollar budgets. In their view, this encouraged speculative and tactical protests.
The FIA says the new rules retain the right to appeal in the case of genuine infringements, but significantly increase financial liability for false complaints. This is expected to reduce the number of post-race disputes and make the protest procedure more balanced.
Source: Sport UA
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