Formula 1 drivers face race bans for swearing at or criticizing the FIA

A source said it was promoted through a “quick electronic vote and without consultation with other stakeholders or the GPDA or the FIA’s own drivers’ commission”.

Another said it was “not right” to act in this way and wondered why this could not have been tabled for discussion at the next meeting of the World Motor Sports Council (WMSC).

The changes mark the latest in a series of moves by the FIA ​​that have been seen as attempts to stifle dissent or criticism of Ben Sulayem.

The most recent was a set of changes to the FIA ​​statutes that opponents said would reduce accountability at the FIA, which were introduced in December at the end of a year in which a series of allegations had been made about Ben Sulayem’s conduct.

And they come less than two months after GPDA director George Russell, the Mercedes F1 driver, said he and his colleagues were “a bit fed up with” FIA lead.

The changes for this year define large fines and an increasing sequence of punishments for drivers guilty of breaking the sporting code.

F1 drivers and others in top championships such as world rallying, world endurance and Formula E are subject to fines four times the standard amount.

For international drivers, a first offense is punishable by a €40,000 (£33,800) fine; a second offense by a fine of €80,000 (£67,600) and a one-month suspension from competition; and a third offense by a fine of €120,000 (£101,000) and a one-month suspension.

The sanctions apply to all FIA license holders, which would include F1 team principals.

An FIA spokesman said the changes were an attempt to “further increase transparency and consistency in decision-making”.

The spokesman added: “The purpose of this new appendix is ​​to provide clear guidance to stewards on the penalties for breaches of specific articles of the international sporting code.

“By establishing a more structured framework, the FIA ​​aims to ensure that penalties are applied uniformly and transparently, benefiting both stewards and drivers/competitors.

“The stewards have the authority to decide what sanction should be applied in the event of a breach of the international sporting code and/or applicable FIA ​​regulations.

“Commissioners retain discretion to take into account any mitigating and/or aggravating circumstances, as well as the nature and location of the event, to tailor the penalty to the specific situation.”

The FIA ​​did not respond to questions about the voting method.

Last year the stewards did not have it in their power to impose a racing ban on a driver.

The spokesperson added: “All major governing bodies have similar rules/fines to protect the integrity of the sport. The FIA ​​is not alone in fining competitors for misconduct.”