FIA clears swearing inside the car, but not if drivers cross this line!
F1 News
It's been dragging for months ever since Max Verstappen said "f*ck" during an FIA official press conference: the use of inappropriate language in motorsport activities sanctioned by the governing body. Now the Mohammed Ben Sulayem presided organization has since clarified that drivers may use sewar words inside the cockpit, only if they don't cross a specific line.
Don't target FIA officials
When the issue was brought up at the Friday drivers' briefing in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Grand Prix activities, both the FIA and the drivers reached an agreement, as the FIA has confirmed to GPblog, that the new - and highly controversial - conduct guidelines issued by the Paris-based organisation - as well as its hefty fines should they be breached - were only applicable to FIA official press conferences and situations of a similar nature, a decision stemming from the precedent set by Dan Ticktum's unpunished radio rant.
Behind this reasoning lies a logic that dictates that driver-team radio conversations are of a private nature, that some are picked to be broadcasted is beside the point. However, FIA steward, Garry Conelly did stress that should the swear words be directed at any officials, the matter would be deffered to the stewarding body and could potentially derive in a potential penalty for the offender.
Max Verstappen, in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix referred to the stewards as idiots upon hearing their verdict on his incident with McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri, at the start of the race. The Dutchman referred to the race officials as "stupid idiots" and sarcastically urged them to issue a heavier penalty for the action. As of now and for the future, this type of behaviour will be up for investigation and potential punishment.
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