Verstappen jokes about the increase in FIA fines: 'For crossing the track'

The FIA has announced that the maximum fines in Formula 1 will be quadrupled. Whereas the maximum amount was previously 250,000 euros, it will now be 1,000,000 euros. Max Verstappen wonders what an F1 driver has to do to be fined a million euros - and, more importantly, what the FIA will do with that money.

"I would like to know what that offence can be for one million. What is it? If touching a rear wing is 50k, then I would like to know what one mil is, and then maybe we can also sponsor the bottles of wines. I'll get ready," Verstappen joked on the subject.

'Charles can give his watch to the FIA'

Charles Leclerc wonders the same thing. "It's a huge amount of money, so again I have no idea what deserves a 1 million dollar penalty. Some drivers are making less than that, so it's a lot of money," said the Ferrari driver. Kevin Magnussen jokingly added: "Charles can give his watch, but I would disappear, never to be found again."

Daniel Ricciardo, who is making his comeback at the US Grand Prix after a hand injury, is hearing about the increased amount for the first time and calls it "scary". Lewis Hamilton was also not yet aware of the news.

Verstappen jokes about Hamilton's fine

"Similar to the guys, it's the first time I've heard of it, so I'm not really sure what it's referring to exactly," said the Mercedes driver. "Maybe for crossing the track?", joked Verstappen, referring to the €50,000 fine (of which €25,000 was conditional) Hamilton got for that offence after his crash in Qatar.

Hamilton, however, thinks it is a serious matter. "When it comes to things like this, we really need to be thinking the message that sends out to those that they're watching. If they are going to be 1 million fines, let's make sure that 100% of that goes to a cause," he suggested.

"There's a lot of money in this whole industry, and there's a lot more that we need to do in terms of creating better accessibility, better diversity, more opportunities for people who wouldn't normally have a chance to get into a sport like this. So many causes around the world, so yeah, that's the only way they'll get that million from me," Hamilton said.