FIA Publishes Penalty Guidelines Ahead Austrian GP Welcomed by Russell

Mercedes driver George Russell, who also serves as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, has welcomed the Formula One governing body's decision to publish penalty guidelines ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. The FIA released these key documents to promote transparency and help fans, media, and competitors better understand how stewards make decisions regarding on-track incidents. Although these guidelines are not regulations and stewards retain independent decision-making authority, they recommend penalties for approximately 100 common infringements and aim to encourage fair and consistent rulings. Russell has previously criticized the FIA, led by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, for lacking transparency and engagement with drivers. The move comes as Red Bull's Max Verstappen faces a potential race ban due to accumulating penalty points after an incident with Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. FIA president Ben Sulayem defended stewards' voluntary work, noting that they often face extreme criticism, and emphasized that publishing the guidelines demonstrates the rigor with which stewarding decisions are pursued.