Formula One drivers are preparing a collective response to the sport’s governing body following its recent crackdown on swearing. This action was prompted after Red Bull’s three-time world champion, Max Verstappen, faced disciplinary measures for using an expletive during a press conference before last Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix. Verstappen was instructed to complete “public interest work” after referring to his car as ‘fucked’ during the pre-race briefing. It follows FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s decision to restrict swearing on team radio and in the media.
The stewards said they had summoned Verstappen because the phrase breached FIA regulations, which state that a driver is ‘required to use language that is not ‘coarse, rude or may cause offense.'” The stewards added that the offending words were not directed at any particular individual or group, but he was still required to be ‘mindful of his status as a role model when speaking in a public forum.’
It was a move that angered many of Verstappen’s colleagues. He was backed by Mercedes driver and reigning champion Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s title rival Lando Norris, who both accused Ben Sulayem of disregarding the intensity and emotional stress associated with competing in F1.
After Verstappen was penalized, several drivers expressed their views in a private WhatsApp chat. They all agreed that it was silly to ban swearing, as the drivers have a right to express themselves.
In the chat, Verstappen admitted that he was disappointed with the decision. “I am unhappy about the FIA’s decision,” he wrote. “I was surprised because it wasn’t really what I said. “But it’s a part of my personality, and I don’t want to change that.”
George Russell, the director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, confirmed the drivers would be making a statement on the matter. He told reporters at the U.S. Grand Prix that a statement was likely when the championship heads to Mexico next week.
The GPDA’s message is expected to stress that the current FIA rules were not created to ban swearing but rather to prevent teams from using swearing as an excuse to give less-than-impressive interviews. “The GPDA will send a message to the FIA, saying ‘we have to be more professional in what we do and how we communicate,'” Russell said.
The GPDA has been in discussions with the FIA for a while and is keen to ensure that any future FIA policy is not designed to limit the freedom of its members. The organization will also try to ensure that it does not lead to censorship of drivers’ messages or transcribed transcripts. It will be a difficult task, but it is clear that the GPDA is up for a fight to protect its members’ rights.
