Formula One drivers face new sanctions for swearing
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A scale of sanctions for F1 drivers has been revealed with fines ranging from €10,000 (S$14,000) to €15,000 for a first offence, from €20,000 to €30,000 for a repeat offence and €30,000 to €45,000 for a further offence.
PHOTO: AFP
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PARIS – Formula One drivers face the possibility of fines or points deductions after the International Automobile Federation (FIA) introduced new guidelines to punish swearing or other sporting violations.
An initial tightening of the rules in 2024 was criticised by a number of F1 drivers, notably Max Verstappen before the Dutchman went on to become a four-time world champion. But the FIA, the sport’s governing body, has decided to go further.
In a statement released on Jan 23 evening, the FIA defined misconduct as “the general use of language (written or verbal), gesture and/or sign that is offensive, insulting, coarse, rude or abusive and might reasonably be expected or be perceived to be coarse or rude or to cause offence, humiliation or to be inappropriate”.
It also included “assaulting (elbowing, kicking, punching, hitting, etc)”, and “incitement to do any of the above”.
A scale of sanctions has been revealed with fines ranging from €10,000 (S$14,130) to €15,000 for a first offence, from €20,000 to €30,000 for a repeat offence and €30,000 to €45,000 for a further offence.
But these amounts will be multiplied by four for F1 drivers, by three for those competing in rally (World Rally Championship) or endurance (World Endurance Championship) racers and by two for participants in regional championships.
Last season, Verstappen was ordered to do some community service for swearing in a press conference, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fined €10,000 for a similar offence.
Neither sanction was received well by the drivers, who also criticised certain statements by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“When it comes to swearing, there is a difference between a swear word intended to insult others and more casual swear words, such as those one might use when talking about bad weather, an inanimate object such as a Formula One car, or a driving situation,” the drivers wrote in an open letter in November.
“We urge the FIA president to also consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise.
“Furthermore, our members are adults. They do not need to be given instructions via the media, about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery or underpants.”
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) said it had “no comment on that matter for the time being”.
However, a source close to one top driver told the BBC the measures were “ridiculous”, adding: “He (Ben Sulayem) acts like a dictator”.
Additionally, the BBC said “a lot of” people at the FIA were against the move, according to several sources, one of which called it a “snap e-vote and with no consultation with other stakeholders or the GPDA or the FIA’s own drivers’ commission”.
The F1 season starts at the March 14-16 Australian Grand Prix while the WRC began on Jan 23 with the Monte Carlo Rally. AFP
