F1 – FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said yesterday he was considering “improvements” to rules that impose heavy sanctions for misconduct, including swearing, in Formula One and other series.
Competitors in rallying and Formula One have been at loggerheads with the Emirati, who will be up for re-election at the end of the year, over a crackdown on bad language during events.
World championship rally drivers, who had openly condemned the fines, made a breakthrough last week when they reached a compromise to divide events into a controlled zone and an uncontrolled one.
“Following constructive feedback from drivers across our seven FIA world championships, I am considering making improvements to Appendix B,” Ben Sulayem said on his Instagram account.
“As a former rally driver, I understand the demands they face better than most.”
Ben Sulayem said Appendix B, which was amended in January with tougher penalties, was a key part of the International Sporting Code but “humans make the rules and humans can improve the rules.”
Further details were expected later in the week, with Formula One racing in Miami. Appendix B covers stewards’ penalty guidelines, setting out punishments for misconduct including words, deeds or writings that might have caused moral injury to the FIA or motorsport in general. A first offence in Formula One incurs a 40,000 euro ($46,000) fine, rising to 80,000 for the second and 120,000 with a one-month suspension and deduction of championship points for a third breach.
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