Formula 1’s Grand Prix Drivers Association released a statement on Thursday calling for better and more respectful treatment of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The FIA has tried to crack down on what drivers can and cannot do in recent seasons. This year, Max Verstappen had to serve community service for being sworn in during a press conference. Verstappen’s use of profanity came after Ben Sulayem said drivers should watch their language and that he wanted race broadcasts to show fewer clips of drivers using profanity in their cars.
During the Grand Prix of Mexico City, Charles Leclerc let slip a swear word in an interview. He was subsequently summoned to the stewards and fined just over $10,000.
Here is the GDPR’s full statement:
“As in any sport, the participants must abide by the referee’s decision, whether they like it or not, whether they agree with it or not. That’s how the sport works. The drivers (our members) are not different and fully understand that.
“Our members are professional drivers who race in Formula 1, the pinnacle of international motorsport. They are the gladiators and every race weekend they put on a great show for the fans.
“With regard to swearing, there is a difference between swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing, such as you might use to describe bad weather or even an inanimate object such as an F1 car, or a driving situation.
“We urge the FIA President to also take into account his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or even about them, in a public forum or otherwise. Moreover, our members are adults, they do not need to be instructed through the media about trivial matters such as wearing jewelry and underpants.
“The GPDA has on numerous occasions expressed its position that fines for drivers are not appropriate for our sport. For the past three years we have called on the FIA President to share the details and strategy on how the FIA’s financial penalties are distributed. and where the money is spent. We have also expressed our concerns about the negative image that financial fines bring to the sport. We again request the FIA President to provide financial transparency and direct, open dialogue with us. the teams and the GPDA) should jointly determine how and where the money is spent for the benefit of our sport.
“The GPDA wants to work constructively with all stakeholders, including the FIA President, to promote our great sport for the benefit of all who work in it, pay for it, watch it and even love it. play our role.”
In 2022, the FIA said drivers would not be allowed to wear jewelry in the car. The ban had a direct impact on Lewis Hamilton, who wore earrings in the car and had a nose ring.
Hamilton also took issue with the way Ben Sulayem expressed his views on drivers’ language. Ben Sulayem tried to say that “we need to differentiate between our sport, motorsport and rap music.”
The seven-time champion is the only black driver in the series and said Ben Sulayem’s comparison was very stereotypical and contained a racial element.
The next F1 race is on November 24 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen has a 62-point lead over Lando Norris in the drivers’ standings with three races to go and is in with a chance of winning his fourth straight championship in Las Vegas.
