Formula 1 drivers ask FIA to treat them like adults after swearing punishments

Formula 1 drivers have urged the sport’s governing body to treat them like adults after Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were punished for swearing.

The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) has also criticised FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his “tone and language” when addressing the topic.

An open letter from the GPDA said: “There is a difference between swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing, such as you might use to describe bad weather, or indeed an inanimate object such as an F1 car, or a driving situation.

“We urge the FIA president to consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise.

“Further, our members are adults. They do not need to be given instructions by the media about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery or underpants.”

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Source: Formula 1 drivers ask FIA to treat them like adults after swearing punishments – BBC Sport

Formula 1 has seen a crackdown on explicit language—the latest in a string of regulations enforced by the FIA in recent seasons. From restrictions on jewelry to mandates on underwear, F1’s governing body, the FIA, has implemented rules that some drivers feel have strayed too far into “trivial” territory.

In the wake of penalties imposed on drivers like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc for swearing, drivers are openly questioning the FIA’s governance, urging the organization to treat them as professionals and adults. They’re also calling for greater transparency, asking pointedly, “How are the FIA’s financial fines allocated and where are the funds spent?”

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At the Singapore Grand Prix press conference, Max Verstappen used a swear word to bluntly describe what the car felt like, his frustrations deep. Within a day, the FIA summoned him, citing a violation of the International Sporting Code, ultimately imposing a community service penalty.

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Even Lewis Hamilton weighed in, saying Verstappen should refuse the community service requirement because his penalty was too harsh. “I think it’s a bit of a joke, to be honest,” said Hamilton. “This is the pinnacle of the sport. Mistakes are made…I certainly [wouldn’t] be doing it and I hope Max doesn’t do it,” said the Briton.

[…]

Most recently, Charles Leclerc also found himself in hot water after he swore during a press conference post-Mexican Grand Prix. The Monegasque apologized immediately after so was let off with a fine of €10,000, half of which will be suspended for a year and no community service.

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Perhaps the move for stricter decorum in Formula 1 also has to do with wider broadcast decency standards. With Formula 1’s recent reportedly $90 million per year broadcast deal with ESPN, the sport is increasingly aligning with the United States’ strict media standards, where explicit language is heavily monitored—a move indicating that the sport is trying to align with American market demands and more conservative media norms.

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Source: F1 Drivers Draw A Line: What’s Behind The FIA’s Swearing Crackdown?

Remember, the drivers voices are not broadcast real time and the swearing is usually bleeped out (which is disappointing as well)

Robin Edgar

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