The Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) has called out FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in response to Formula 1’s recent swearing saga.
The GPDA, which is effectively Formula 1’s drivers’ union, urged Ben Sulayem to “consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in public form or otherwise.”
All 20 current drivers are members, with Mercedes’ George Russell holding a director’s position and Alex Wurz, the former McLaren and Williams driver, its long-standing chair.
The issue of swearing was thrust into the spotlight after Ben Sulaymen said in an interview published on the eve of September’s Singapore GP that he wanted to see less foul language, which is bleeped, from radio feeds aired on F1’s world TV feed.
While he said he had made a request to Formula 1 itself, the sport’s commercial rights holder, Ben Sulaymen also argued that drivers themselves also had a responsibility to mind their language.
Later on the same day that the interview was published, Max Verstappen was given F1’s equivalent of community service for swearing during a press conference when describing his Red Bull car’s performance, which resulted in him refusing to give full answers in several official media appearances that followed.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc then received a €10,000 (£8,420) fine for using a swear word in the post-race press conference at last month’s Mexico City Grand Prix. Although stewards took into account the fact that Leclerc had issued an immediate apology and appeared contrite, a fine for the rules breach was still levied.
Meanwhile, discussion and controversy around F1’s driving standards guidelines dominated the recent triple header of races in the Americas, with Verstappen’s driving in his battle with title rival Lando Norris coming under particularly scrutiny.
More to follow..
Formula 1 returns with the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 22-24, live on Sky Sports F1 where Max Verstappen could seal the championship. Get Sky Sports F1 to watch every race and more live
