Formula 1 drivers are preparing to engage in discussions about their collective concerns regarding the FIA’s stringent response to Max Verstappen’s use of profanity during a press conference. The FIA recently imposed a day of public service on Verstappen for using the F-word ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, a decision that has sparked discontent among the current crop of drivers.
Verstappen himself staged protests at subsequent press conferences, providing only brief responses to meet the requirements while expressing his frustration. During a private gathering with media outside the official FIA environment, Verstappen indicated that incidents like this could influence his decision to retire from racing.
He also confirmed that he has received support from fellow drivers via the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) WhatsApp group. “Yeah, for sure,” Verstappen stated when asked about backing from his peers. “I shared the ruling in the GPDA chat, and everyone was almost laughing, like, ‘what the hell is that?’ It’s very, very silly.”
In light of the situation, the GPDA is looking to gather feedback from all its members to formulate a unified response. GPDA chairman Alex Wurz spoke to Motorsport.com’s sister site, Formel1.de, about the excessive nature of the FIA’s penalties for swearing.
“How many lifetime community services would Guenther Steiner have to serve for using the F-word?” Wurz quipped, pointing out the inconsistency in how the FIA handles similar language. He noted that Steiner has often been celebrated for his candidness, particularly on Netflix’s coverage of the sport, without facing repercussions.
Wurz emphasized that while not all drivers may choose to use expletives, the penalties imposed for such language are overly harsh. He stated, “As GPDA chairman, I must officially say that we will discuss this internally, reach a consensus, and then consider how to approach the FIA and its president.”
He further clarified that the GPDA prefers to resolve matters privately rather than through media channels. “We aim to solve issues internally for the sake of the sport and to bring all key stakeholders along on this journey,” Wurz explained. He believes that drivers should be allowed to express themselves authentically, as long as their comments are not personally offensive or discriminatory.
The controversy surrounding Verstappen comes in the wake of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s comments about wanting to see less swearing among drivers, particularly on team radio. “We have to differentiate between our sport—motorsport—and rap music,” Ben Sulayem stated. “We’re not rappers, you know. They use the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them, and we are [us].”
As discussions within the GPDA unfold, all eyes will be on how the drivers choose to address the FIA’s response and the broader implications for communication within the sport.
