The FIA have caused yet more controversy after the latest punishments for swearing were released.
It comes after the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem issued a crackdown on swearing last season after he criticised F1 drivers for their foul language over team radio.
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were both punished for using the f-word during press conferences in 2024. The former was handed community service hours, which he served during the FIA Prize Giving Gala in Rwanda.
The latter was fined 10,000 euros (roughly £8,400) and later claimed there were mitigating circumstances as he apologised immediately. Verstappen retaliated by refusing to answer questions at races in protest.
The FIA have changed the International Sporting Code ahead of the 2025 season for all championships. In F1, the governing body can now how out more severe punishments if a driver falls foul of the misconduct rules.
Drivers can now be fined 40,000 euros (£37,800) for a first offence, 80,000 euros (£67.500) and a one-month suspension from competition for a second offence, and a third offence would see a 120,000 euro (£101,300) fine, a one-month suspension and an unspecified points deduction.
Martin Brundle says it ‘doesn’t feel right’ that drivers swear in press conferences amid FIA’s new penalties
The new punishments are likely to be met with criticism from the drivers and teams. The GDPA, headed by George Russell, issued a letter to the FIA last season criticising the governing body for engaging in ‘trivial’ matters such as swearing and wearing jewellery.
But Martin Brundle is ‘calm’ with there being some regulation around swearing. Speaking on Sky Sports, he says F1 drivers are ‘role models’ and should not feel the need to swear in press conferences.
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“I think we’re role models, F1 drivers are role models. You don’t need to gratuitously swear in a press conference, whatever,” he said.
“In the heat of the moment, in the car, full of adrenaline, full of despair, happiness, whatever, I get it completely.
“But personally, it doesn’t feel right to me. What I love about Rugby is how they respect the referee and I think Formula 1 should be the same, because you’re role models for all the drivers coming through.
“So, if you’re dirty on track or your cheating the track limits or you’re calling the FIA stewards ‘stupid idiots’ to give you one example or being unreasonable like that.
“I mean there are degrees of this and how heavy-handed you want to be is a whole new story. But I don’t mind there being some rules of our Formula 1 drivers who are great kids being role models. I’m calm with that”.
What people within the FIA are saying about the new penalties
Ben Sulayem has come under a lot of fire in recent months for his handling of various situations. He dismissed race director Niels Wittich in response to the GDPA’s letter about swearing.
The FIA president was also criticised for penalties handed out on track. Eddie Jordan criticised Ben Sulayem after Lando Norris was penalised at the Qatar Grand Prix with a 10-second stop/go penalty after he missed a yellow flag zone.
Karun Chandhok felt there were more serious issues the FIA should be focusing their attention on rather than swearing.
The new penalties have even come under fire from people within the governing body itself. ‘A lot of’ people within the FIA were against the move, stating that the GDPA and other stakeholders were not consulted about the matter.
