The FIA has recently updated its guidelines in the International Sporting Code, and there is now harsher punishment if drivers end up swearing, or other language the FIA deems harmful — former F1 driver and GPDA chairman Alex Wurz has given his thoughts on it.
If Max Verstappen used an expletive in a press conference, the punishment could amount to 40,000 Euros.
These guidelines have raised the debate on whether drivers should be allowed to swear.
The drivers should be responsible
The GPDA chairman states that this should not be as big of a point of contention as it already is. Although he admits “it’s best not to swear“, he highlights how drivers want to be role models to everyone.
Moreover, Wurz adds that all 20 of the drivers don’t purposefully swear. It can happen in the heat of battle on the track.
“But it’s not about not swearing. We all know that we are role models. Every driver wants to be a good role model.
“I don’t know anyone in those elite 20 athletes who is a real rebel and wants to go out and swear and shout. It’s really not the case.
“We have to just hope that common sense prevails with all of us, really all of us, that when a word is slipping and perhaps the controller of the feeds are not finding the beep button to support us as an industry, because we have to address this together.”
Swearing ban removes authenticity of Formula One
Wurz admits the F1 swearing restrictions can be harmful for authenticity. Requiring drivers to not swear during sessions would essentially be ineffective for them. Swearing is almost inevitable in the heat of battle.
Currently when drivers’ swear over team radio, it is bleeped out in the broadcasts.
Due to the updates in the sporting code being so recent, there have been sources that state the GPDA was surprised when the news came out.
“At the same time, we have to remain authentic, but we can’t be authentic without swearing. So it’s a big topic.
“But we had no time to form our opinion and a potential course of action or maybe no action.”
