Starting from next season, the FIA will introduce a higher deposit for protests, reviews and technical investigations following the numerous complaints filed over the past two years. The goal is to reduce frivolous appeals and speed up the finalisation of race results, making access to these procedures more costly.
In the latest draft of the sporting regulations approved in December during the FIA World Motor Sport Council, several regulatory updates were introduced, including an increase in the deposit fee required from teams to submit official protests or appeals against decisions made by the stewards.
This measure has its roots in the F1 Commission meeting held last July, when the issue was discussed for the first time after a series of incidents that had sparked debate in the paddock. On several occasions, the final race results were confirmed only after a significant delay due to protests being lodged.
At the time, the Commission, chaired by Stefano Domenicali, President and Chief Executive Officer of Formula 1, and by Nicolas Tombazis, FIA Single-Seater Director, examined the possibility of tightening the system governing sporting protests. The objective was clear: to reduce, or ideally eliminate, protests considered frivolous or lacking a solid foundation.
The discussion was triggered in particular by the numerous protests filed by Red Bull Racing during the first part of the 2025 season. The team, then led by Christian Horner, submitted two protests against George Russell: the first at the Miami Grand Prix, accusing him of failing to slow down under yellow flag conditions; the second at the Canadian Grand Prix, for an alleged failure to respect the minimum distance behind the Safety Car after braking sharply, to the point that Max Verstappen overtook him. In both cases, the FIA rejected the protests submitted by the Milton Keynes-based team.
These episodes caused frustration among the other teams, mainly due to the uncertainty that lasted for hours after the races had finished. From this came the desire to introduce a stricter system, capable of discouraging protests without solid grounds.
The measure approved in the December regulatory draft introduces a significant increase in the deposit fee required to lodge an official protest. The aim is to make access to the procedure more expensive, thereby discouraging the tactical or instrumental use of the protest system. Clearly, this is a deposit that will be refunded in the event of a successful outcome. It is also worth remembering that the money spent on protests falls within the cost cap, and it is no coincidence that teams allocate part of their budget to this possibility.
This approach also reflects the words spoken by George Russell after the second protest filed against him: “A €2,000 deposit for teams that make millions in profits is nowhere near enough. Teams will not think twice about filing more protests. If it were a six-figure sum instead, I am sure they would think twice before doing it.”
In addition to the increase in protest fees, the regulatory draft approved in December also includes a rise in the costs associated with technical investigations into rival cars, thus completing a package of measures designed to make the Formula 1 sporting protest system more rigorous and responsible. This also includes requests for reviews, which have likewise been increased to €20,000 per request.
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