The FIA tweaked the International Sporting Code ahead🌠 of this weekend’s F1 United States Grand Prix, notably quadrupling the ♉maximum fine that a steward is authorised to dish out to a driver, from €250,000.

This regulatioꦗn had not changed in 12 years but F1 dr💧ivers have met the amendment with fury.

Mercedes driver and GPDA director Russell said: "I think it's pret🐟❀ty ridiculous that a driver could be fined €1m.

"In my first year of Formula 1 I was on a five-figure salary. I actually lost over six figꦗures in that first year from paying for my trainer, paying♉ for flights, paying for an assistant. 

“That's probably the case for 25 percent of the gri💧d.

"We're doing what we l⭕ove, so we're not complaining about ♏that. 

“But if you take a year-one driver who probably by the end of the year is losing over €100,000 because of the inves💛tments he has to make, [then] you fine them €1m. What's going to happen?"

Russell revealed that 🧸🎀the F1 drivers plan to debate this issue at the Friday evening drivers’ briefing.

"For sure. There's no doubt about it,” he said.

"We jusꦬt want transparency and understanding. Already the fines are getting out of control. ܫ;

“Max Verstappen being fined €50,000 for touꦍching a car. Lewis Hamilton being fined ༺€50,000.

"It fee♛ls like these numbers 🍰are being plucked out of the air! 

“When there's a lot of great global issues going ♏on and so much poverty around the world, how can a federation can just make up these six-figure, seven-figure fines?

"We've requested before from the FIA to hꦡear where these fines ar♉e going toward, what causes they are going to. 

“It needs to be reinv🏅ested into grassroots. But so far we've had no response on where that's g🥀oing.

"If they truly believe a €1m fine is worthwhile and it's going to be reinvested into the sport, then maybe one of the drivers who's being paid a lot is happy to pay that fine. But it seem෴s obscene."