Formula 1 Reviews Fees for Protests and Appeals

In a statement on Tuesday, Formula 1 indicated that they are considering changes to the deposit fees linked to protests, appeals, and reviews. They may also introduce fees related to investigations.

This announcement follows the third meeting of the Formula 1 Committee, which took place at the Formula One Management Office in London. Recently, several team principals, notably Mercedes’ Toto Wolf, have discussed this topic in the media. Wolf mentioned the matter prior to the Austrian Grand Prix press conference, sharing insights after enduring two post-race protests lodged by Red Bull this season, one being at the Canadian Grand Prix. There, George Russell finished first but didn’t receive confirmation as the winner until several hours later, after Red Bull’s protest was rejected.

“I think it’s perfectly legal to protest. We’re vying for victories and championships,” Wolf stated before the Austrian Grand Prix.

“Yet, some of these actions seem rather unrealistic. From my perspective, while it is legal to protest, a few of these actions go on for too long,” he explained.

Wolf pointed out that the Governing Body of Sports is looking into the matter.

“In the case of the Canadian Grand Prix, for instance, if you lose, there should definitely be a fine. The FIA president is addressing this. Losing can cost you significantly, so a fine should be enough to make you think twice before proceeding with such actions,” he added.

“I believe that’s in line with what the FIA is considering.”

The discussion of protest-related fees wasn’t the only topic addressed in the meeting, which was led by FIA singleseater director Nicholaston Bajis and Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali. The continued global growth of the sport, especially in the U.S., was also on the agenda.

According to a statement released after the meeting, Formula 1’s “global fanbase currently stands at 827 million, reflecting over a 10% increase, with a notable rise in the U.S. fanbase year-on-year.”

Additionally, the committee highlighted that younger spectators are increasingly engaging with Formula 1, with a larger portion identifying as women. Fans are actively participating on social media to stay updated with F1.

“The demographic of Formula 1 fans is getting younger, with 43% being under 35 and 42% being women. Moreover, social media engagement has surged to 106 million, a jump from 18 million in 2018, alongside growing television viewership for the 2025 season,” the committee noted.

The Formula One Committee also facilitated discussions on Formula 1-related films, which are performing well at the box office. F1: Movie, since its release, has brought in over $460 million globally, ranking as the 7th highest-grossing film of the year.

“The positive impact of the Formula 1 film underscores its early success and its potential to attract new fans to the sport,” the committee remarked.

Formula 1 is set to return to action this week at the Belgian Grand Prix.