Formula 1 drivers will have to pay less to use swear words. In a sigh of relief, the FIA has reduced the penalties for drivers swearing or criticising officials.
A widespread outcry by the drivers over the hefty fines and strict rules have prompted the sport’s governing body to mellow down the punishment.
New Changes
The new guidelines issued to stewards on Wednesday has removed the threat of a race ban, and cut the amount of fine that can be applied to half.
Previously, Formula 1 drivers could be fined €40,000 (£33,700) for a first offence, and double that plus a ban for a second offence.
Now, the initial level of fine has been reduced to €5,000 (£4,200) and the potential for a ban lifted, although “more severe penalties” may still be imposed for “very serious offences”.
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The new document also differentiates between offences committed in “controlled” and “uncontrolled” environments.
The former is what the drivers say and do within competition, while the latter indicates forums such as news conferences, where adrenaline and risk are not influencing factors.
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Last year, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was forced to do the F1 equivalent of community service after swearing in a news conference at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The drivers followed that with an open letter to the FIA asking it to treat them like “adults”.
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Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fined 10,000 euros for swearing at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Ben Sulayem hinted before the Miami Grand Prix that changes would be made around the misconduct penalties, which were instituted for 2025 to allow for larger fines and suspensions for drivers who swear repeatedly.
However, he received a backlash from drivers and event organisers, prompting what Ben Sulayem called “an extensive and collaborative review.”
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World championship rally drivers in April this year reached a compromise to divide events into a controlled zone and an uncontrolled one, with the change now being implemented across all events sanctioned by the FIA.
Ronan Morgan, president of the FIA 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. Today’s changes further strengthen the FIA’s International Sporting Code supporting our drivers by understanding the pressures they face during the heat of competition.”
It remains that drivers can be punished for bad language, abuse of officials, criticism of the FIA or “general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its statutes”.
