Changes to the International Sporting Code: FIA also punishes offences in Formula E with high penalties

The FIA has published a new appendix to its International Sporting Code (ISC). In the "Stewards Penalty Guideline", participants are threatened with severe penalties if they violate the guidelines of the code. In addition to fines, this also includes suspensions and the deduction of championship points.

The FIA has now put "price tags" on five different offences, which the stewards will use as a guide in the event of an infringement. All of these offences were already laid down in the International Sporting Code, but the stewards had no points of reference on which to base their penalties. This has now been standardised for offences against the following articles of the ISC.

Article 12.2.1f: "Any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA."

Article 12.2.1l: "Any Misconduct." According to the ISC, this includes "the general use of language (written or verbal), gesture and/or sign that is offensive, insulting, coarse, rude or abusive and might reasonably be expected or be perceived to be coarse or rude or to cause offense, humiliation or to be inappropriate; assaulting (elbowing, kicking, punching, hitting, etc.); incitement to do any of the above."

Article 12.2.1n: "Any public incitement to violence or hatred."

Article 12.2.1o: "The general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its Statutes, unless previously approved in writing by the FIA for International Competitions, or by the relevant ASN for National Competitions within their jurisdiction."

Article 12.2.1p: "Failure to comply with the instructions of the FIA regarding the appointment and participation of persons during official ceremonies at any Competition counting towards a FIA Championship."

Repeat offenders will have to dig deeper into their pockets & fear bans

The penalties increase if the stewards find a further offence within two years. While the first offence is still subject to a fine of €10,000, this increases to €20,000 for a second offence plus a one-month suspension, which is suspended. For a third offence, the fine increases to €30,000 plus a one-month suspension in conjunction with the deduction of championship points.

In the event of violations of Article 12.2.1o, the FIA will also always demand a public apology and repudiation of comments or statement. What happens if this does not happen is not defined there.

If Article 12.2.1p is not complied with, the fine is always increased by 50 per cent to 15,000 euros for the first offence, 30,000 euros for the second and 45,000 euros for the third. For the second offence, a "suspension of access to Reserved Area(s) of event for next event" will also be imposed, for the third incident a "suspension of access to Reserved Areas(s) of event for 6 months" in addition to the deduction of championship points.

The fines in the above amounts only apply to participants in international championships. In the case of regional FIA championships or FIA Cups, this is always multiplied by a factor of two. As a participant in an FIA World Championship, the fines in Formula E - just like in the World Endurance Championship WEC or the World Rally Championship WRC - must always be paid in triple the amount. In Formula 1, even four times the amount is due.