F1 drivers facing points deductions and race bans for swearing in brutal new FIA crackdown
The Formula 1 world championship could be decided by who is the most potty-mouthed, under strict new rules introduced by the sport's governing body.
In 2024 world champion Max Verstappen was given a community service order, with the Red Bull star ordered to undertake work with the FIA in Africa after swearing during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix. The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) called out FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem soon after in response to the swearing saga, but he chose to remain tight lipped. Ben Sulayem had previously said that F1 should, "differentiate between our sport - motorsport - and rap music" leading to an accusation from Lewis Hamilton that his language was "stereotypical" and contained a "racial element".
Now harsh new rules brought in by the FIA could see drivers capable of keeping their mouths shut under pressure get an advantage in the title race. In the rules for 2025 the FIA define misconduct as: "The general use of language (written or verbal), gesture and/or sign that is offensive, insulting, coarse, rude or abusive and might reasonably be expected or be perceived to be coarse or rude or to cause offense, humiliation or to be inappropriate." Inciting any form of violence could also come with the risk of fines, points deductions and bans."
Fines are multiplied by four for F1 drivers meaning a first offence could cost an F1 star around €40,000, rising to €80,000 and a suspended one-month suspension on the second offence. A third offence would see fines ramped up to €120,000 and include a "one-month suspension plus deduction of Championship points."
The sporting code update adds that drivers are at risk of similar penalties for: "Any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motorsport and on the values defended by the FIA." Racers making political or religious statements also face the wrath of the rulebook, which mandates apologies and the retraction of controversial comments.
And the harshest punishment, a fine of €180,000 and six month race ban, has also been introduced for any drivers' who fail "to comply with the instructions of the FIA regarding the appointment and participation of persons during official ceremonies at any Competition counting towards a FIA Championship". A first offence would see a €60,000 fine, with a second offence resulting in a €120,000 bill and the "suspension of access to reserved area(s) of the event for the next event." Another offence where a driver fails to comply with ceremony instructions would lead to a €180,000 fine and a six-month race suspension.
