FIA declares: 'Drivers are looked up to as role models'

The FIA recently introduced a stricter version of the code of conduct, which has sparked a huge debate across all racing series. Drivers from multiple championships have already stated that they’re not thrilled with the new rules, and even less with the intended punishments. How is the FIA going to ensure that penalties will be handed out equally across all championships?

After Dan Ticktum was left unpenalised following a onboard radio rant in Jeddah, GPblog asked the FIA for clarification on the matter. "Like many international governing bodies or leagues and championships in other sports, we maintain a code of conduct that lays out what we expect of our athletes and their teams", a spokesperson for the FIA responded.

"Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are ambassadors for the wider world of motor sport, how they act on the track and in the paddock matters. The code’s purpose is then to promote the best in sportsmanship and respect, including expectations around language that can be seen as offensive or inappropriate by many, or acts that could be deemed detrimental to the sport."

The FIA emphasises that it looks at the way other championships deal with situations, before issuing judgement. "These rules and penalties are in line with those taken by our peer organisations in other global sports and high-profile leagues and championships. As with all rules, particularly those in high-stress and competitive environments, it is crucial to assess situations on a case-by-case basis. But, unnecessary obscenity and profanity are not condoned, and we intend to implement the code of conduct in a fair and equal manner."

Changes in the code of conduct

At the beginning of the year, the FIA announced that it would be significantly tightening its reins on the drivers. In the past, drivers that broke the code of conduct would leave with a warning or a fine at most. From this season onwards, the punishments are much more severe.

A driver that is found to be in breach of the code of conduct for the first time will receive a fine, of which a part remains conditional. A second violation will result in a higher fine and a conditional ban from certain places around the paddock. A third offence will result in a hefty fine, a one-month suspension and possibly a deduction of points in the championship.

No penalty for Ticktum, fine for Fourmaux

When Formula E driver Dan Ticktum was caught in ranting over the radio, punishment seemed inevitable. The Formula E driver had been told by his team that he had to make an extra stop because of a mistake, which would cost him a lot of time. "Can we just try and not do that and risk it? Because we’re going to lose the whole fucking race because of that." Following a negative response from his engineer, Ticktum's rant went on for around a minute.

Despite using quite a few expletives, the stewards eventually decided not to punish him for it. The decision sparked confusion, as WRC driver Adrien Fourmaux was handed a fine for telling the media: "We F*cked up". Why? Ticktum's heated moment happened on the on-board radio, while Fourmaux did it in front of the media. By leaving the Formula E driver unpunished, the stewards have now set a precedent that drivers in all FIA championships will undoubtedly benefit from.

Rally drivers ask for transparency

The World Rally Drivers Alliance released a statement earlier this week, asking the FIA ​​to review the conduct guidelines and the punishment should they be breached. In addition, they asked the FIA for transparency surrounding the money paid in fines. The Formula 1 Grand Prix Drivers Association asked the same question at the end of 2024, but were told by President Mohammed Ben Sulayem that it was none of their business. The FIA ​​has not yet responded to the rally drivers' statement.

This article was written in collaboration with Norberto Mujica.

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