World Rally Championship (WRC) champion Ott Tanak has voiced his confusion regarding the FIA’s recent clampdown on swearing and expressed uncertainty about what he can and cannot say in public moving forward.
This issue gained traction following a statement from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem three weeks ago, announcing a stricter approach to language used in the sport. The announcement followed the investigation of reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen for his use of profanity during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix. Verstappen described his car’s setup at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as “f—ed,” leading to disciplinary action from the stewards. Who mandated that he perform public service.
Reflecting on the current climate, Tanak remarked, “Let’s see how the rally will be. It is quite interesting times at the moment. Not sure how much I can say, but I’m living the dream and enjoying the cars.” He further elaborated, stating, “It is strange times in motorsport generally where you need to be very careful what you say and how you express your emotions—they are not really allowed for the moment.”
The clampdown on inappropriate language has affected other racing series as well. During the Rally of Greece, eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier criticized officials, resulting in a suspended €30,000 fine. Tanak commented on this growing scrutiny, saying, “In rallying with Seb and in Formula 1. It seems we are really on the radar at the moment, so let’s see where it goes from here.”
Tanak suggested that the promoters should provide clearer guidance on expectations regarding public comments. “For the moment, to give stage end interviews without any emotion is really difficult to know how to act. It is an interesting time,” he concluded.
As the FIA implements stricter guidelines, drivers and teams will need to navigate this new landscape carefully. Balancing authenticity with compliance in their public communications.
