Teams should consider staging 'underdog' demonstrations, proposes Wolff
Formula One team bosses like Toto Wolff from Mercedes are pushing for tougher penalties against teams that make "frivolous" or unwarranted protests. Speaking at the Austrian Grand Prix, Wolff expressed his displeasure with recent protests, particularly those lodged by Red Bull against their rival driver George Russell.
According to Wolff, some of these protests are unfounded and serve only to disrupt post-race proceedings. He called for the FIA, Formula One's governing body, to impose fines on teams that file such unsubstantiated protests. In his view, a hefty fine would serve as a deterrent for teams from engaging in such behavior.
The FIA is reportedly considering this move, with Toto Wolff suggesting that the fines should be substantial enough to be an "embarrassment" for the teams if they lose the appeals and end up paying the penalties.
While not everyone may welcome the idea of higher fines, Wolff argued that it's essential to prevent unnecessary delays and distractions in the sport. Current rules require teams to pay a €2,000 deposit to lodge a protest, which some argue is too low and fails to deter unnecessary appeals.
George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, has proposed increasing the protest deposit to a "six-figure sum." This suggestion aims to ensure that race results stand unless there are substantial grounds for appeal, reducing the frequency of protest-related delays.
With the FIA having updated racing guidelines and penalty frameworks for the 2025 season, the issue of protest deposits and fines remains a topic of ongoing discussion and potential reform in light of the recent controversies.
Toto Wolff, in his argument, advocated for the FIA to punish teams that file unsubstantiated protests with substantial fines, suggesting that they should be improperly labelled as an "embarrassment" for the teams. Moreover, George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, has suggested increasing the protest deposit to a significant sum aiming to minimize protest-related delays and preserve race results.
