Formula One’s governing body the FIA has retreated from its hard stance against drivers using bad language that has caused controversy and division since it was pursued by the president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The move will be considered a climbdown by the FIA among drivers and others in the F1 paddock, not least the defending world champion Max Verstappen, who has been among many who were vociferous in their dismissal of the policy and the FIA’s previous refusal to listen to the drivers’ standpoint.
On Wednesday the FIA announced it was cutting in half the maximum penalties for drivers swearing. The decision comes after Ben Sulayem, who is set to stand for re-election in December, had intimated he was to do so last month and after the governing body and its president had been at odds with the drivers over the issue since the Singapore GP in 2024 when Verstappen was punished for using bad language in an FIA press conference.
Before Singapore Ben Sulayem had made his position clear, stating he did not want drivers to swear, comparing it unfavourably to rap artists; a comment Lewis Hamilton dismissed as being influenced by a racial bias and stereotyping. The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association reacted by issuing a public statement to the FIA demanding they stop treating drivers like children and to know where the money from the fines was being spent, to which the FIA did not respond.
More recently George Russell, a director of the GPDA, stated they wanted actions not words from the FIA on the matter and reiterated that the GPDA had still had no contact on the subject from the governing body. The standoff appears to be finally nearing some form of rapprochement, although there has yet to be any comment from the drivers, who will likely address it this weekend at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
The FIA said on Wednesday that the base maximum penalty has been reduced from €10,000 (£8,423) to €5,000, while stewards will have the option to fully suspend a penalty if it is the first offence by a driver or a team. Previously F1 drivers, who were subject to multipliers from the base level, were in line for an escalating scale of fines opening at €40,000 (£33,700) and with the more consequential sporting threat of a ban, which has also been dropped, with the caveat of the potential for a “serious penalty” for “very serious offences”.
Crucially, stewards will also be given more discretion on deciding penalties. They will be able to differentiate between “controlled” and “non-controlled environments”, with the latter being the competition on track or on a rally stage, where drivers have long been clear they express themselves in the heat of the moment and that the sport is unusual in having competitors’ comments broadcast live while they are in action.
Garry Connelly, F1’s stewards chief, claimed the changes would give stewards guidance to “differentiate between on and off-track issues”. Ronan Morgan, president of the drivers’ committee, said: “Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are rightly seen as ambassadors for the wider world of motor sport.
“How they act really does matter but it is important to recognise that there is a difference between what is said during a race and in a press conference.”
after newsletter promotion
The changes cover appendix B of the stewards’ penalty guidelines, setting out punishments for misconduct including words, deeds or writings that might have caused moral injury to the FIA or motor sport in general. Mitigating circumstances will also be considered while the abuse of officials, which is exceptionally rare in F1, will now result in sporting penalties instead of fines.
“As a former rally driver, I know first-hand the range of emotions that are faced during competition,” said Ben Sulayem, “I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA world championships, FIA member clubs and other motor sports organisations.
“The improvements the FIA has announced today to appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute.”
