F1
Anger is growing among drivers over FIA decisions: "We are already very limited"
© Florent Gooden / DPPI
This 2025 season has not yet started, and it already promises to be tense between the governing bodies and the drivers, the main players in the championship. Indeed, for several months, the FIA has embarked on a mission of total control of speech.
The Federation thus wants to “clean up” the Formula 1 and get rid of all the vulgarities that can be heard publicly. This started in Singapore last September when Max Verstappen had been sentenced to community service for publicly uttering an insult (the "f word"). Before a falling out between the two parties ensued, the Dutchman did not hesitate to boycott official press conferences, preferring to speak to journalists in the aisles of the paddock. In Mexico, Charles Leclerc was fined 10 euros, 000 of which was suspended, for the same incident.
Meanwhile, FIA has decided to increase sanctions for misconduct, now ranging from simple financial penalties to the withdrawal of points, and even suspension in the event of a repeat offence. Now, it would be tempted to export this authoritarianism to live radio broadcasts, as its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem recently suggested. Enough to provoke a little more anger among the drivers.
« There have been discussions about this, Alex confided Albon during the presentation of the news Williams, confirming that the pilots spoke to each other. We are still thinking about how we want to formulate what we think about this topic. It’s a tricky question… Do we think it’s a good thing? Of course not. »
For its part, Carlos Sainz developed his argument a little further. According to the Spaniard, one must not forget to take into account the context before acting, especially when a driver finds himself in the heat of the action while they are already restricted elsewhere…
« What we say on the radio… I don't agree with what's happening, he adds. You can't be too hard on this kind of thing because you can't understand the pressure, the adrenaline and what you feel in the car when you talk on the radio.
For F1 it's good to have these moments because you see the real driver. As F1 drivers we are already very limited in what we can say about our teams, about our situations. We already have a lot of briefings with the media. They already tell us what to say on the radio. But when you hear that passion, those words, even if sometimes we say swear words on the radio, for me it's an essential part of F1 and it's something we shouldn't get rid of.. » It remains to be seen whether Mohammed Ben Sulayem will be ready to take into consideration the pilots' opinion...
ALSO READ > Live radio exchanges also in the FIA's sights?
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Gonzalo Forbes
In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.
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Jean-Luc Germain
17/02/2025 at 07:17 a.m.
Since the Arabs took power over motor sports, it's become crazy, there are too many fines for things that are natural for Westerners?
Bernard Launoy
17/02/2025 at 03:03 a.m.
This circus must be stopped. The real bosses are the drivers, even if they have never really been able to be over the decades with the sinister individuals that were Ecclestone and his ilk. It is up to them to attribute the negative points to this guy on duty and to have his license withdrawn at the next Grand Prix and of course to strike if necessary at the first GP in the Arabian Peninsula. Then, the language on the radio reflects the true atmosphere of the exchange. It no longer has the slightest ounce of interest if it is watered down
Lucas Paul
17/02/2025 at 10:11 a.m.
Gentlemen drivers, maybe forget that you are the masters of F1, not Mohamed and other idiots who think they are kings! Go on strike, on an Arab circuit, without warning, and you will see that everything can change!
BELLAIGUE
17/02/2025 at 07:54 a.m.
Hello, Let the pilots be polite I have nothing to say, but the traffic jam is going too far what is this dictate of a president who thinks he is the moralizer of the world. Gentlemen pilots do not let this happen. Go on strike until they cancel this article good luck but above all do not act like puppies. This dictate
Navel
16/02/2025 at 10:35 a.m.
This MBS is getting on my nerves, he's just detestable, it's serious
Thomas
16/02/2025 at 07:34 a.m.
We must fire this President who does not understand the natural behavior of pilots in action.
FuraxGEX59
16/02/2025 at 12:28 a.m.
At the same time, since the Emirates have been in place in all sports, their dictatorships have only made the disciplines boring.
Patrick
16/02/2025 at 08:02 a.m.
I totally agree with Carlos Sainz, who does this authoritarian character think he is? Why was this gentleman appointed president of the FIA when his country does not know how to design or produce cars? Apart from money, I don't know what motivated the other members, all old slackers and very well paid, to validate his candidacy and yours for him. His decisions are distressing, he would have a heart attack if he heard our politicians speak in the National Assembly and I'm not even talking about Trump and his gang whose insulting remarks make F1 drivers look like Care Bears. As things stand, this guy is going to escalate And like any good dictator, like the leader of his country, impose his vision on HIM. When will the veil be worn in the garages and paddocks of F1 🤔🤔 sad sire that this president, his image is detestable
Yves-Henri RANDIER
15/02/2025 at 03:42 a.m.
@La Senia Oran: wouldn't that smell a bit like a pied-noir Formula 1 fan, would it?
JO ORTIZ
15/02/2025 at 02:31 a.m.
At 20 to XNUMX, if the pilots agree they can have the skin of this tyrant,
The Senia Oran
15/02/2025 at 01:42 a.m.
Hey artists, I'm looking forward to seeing you. Mars, Australia. With Jean Todt at the head of the FIA, classy, never a problem. Hey drivers, don't let yourselves be eaten up by a guy who supposedly knows about human rights.
Yves-Henri RANDIER
15/02/2025 at 01:19 a.m.
Like a good, straight-laced autocrat, the FIA president doesn't care what the drivers think, perhaps considering like Bernie E. that drivers are only paid to drive, period! The press conferences are already more than soporific, journalists should try to see the drivers outside of the meetings dictated by Liberty Media and the FIA.