FIA asks F1 to limit swearing in television coverage

The FIA ​​has asked Formula 1 management to keep the amount of bad language in Formula 1 television productions to a minimum, Autosport can reveal.

While swear words are bleeped out on official TV broadcasts, the increasing frequency of such outbursts is a cause for concern for motorsport’s governing body.

In an exclusive interview with Autosport, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed that he is taking steps to change the tone of the content broadcast to fans.

He says that drivers themselves have a certain responsibility to control what they say, adding that a request has been made to FOM to restrict the communication of foul language.

“We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music,” Ben Sulayem said.

“We ain’t rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times a minute? We don’t. That’s them and we are (us).”

Ben Sulayem, 14-time Middle East Rally champion, says he understands the frustrations of competitors but believes standards must be maintained.

“I know, I was a driver,” he noted. “In the heat of the moment, when you think you’re angry because another driver came up to you and pushed you…

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President

Photo by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images

“When I used to drive in the dust (and something like that happened), I would get angry. But we also have to be careful with our behavior. We have to be responsible people.

“And now with the technology, everything is live and everything is recorded. Ultimately, we have to study that to see: are we minimizing what is being said publicly?

“Imagine you’re watching the race with your kids and someone starts saying all kinds of bad language.

“I mean, what would your children or grandchildren say? What would you teach them if that was your sport?”

When asked if the FIA ​​could require FOM to restrict the use of team radio with abusive language in TV broadcasting, Ben Sulayem confirmed that this is already happening.

“We can and we are,” Ben Sulayem replied. “We are the ones who actually approved more (radio) talk (on the TV broadcast).

“But we have rules, and the rules are there for the good of the sport and the rules are there to be enforced and respected.”

New FIA standards

Ben Sulayem made his statement about drivers not being rappers after being asked about a statement he posted on his personal Instagram account during the summer break, in which he cited a change in the FIA’s International Sporting Code regarding the definition of the word ‘misconduct’.

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, drivers wave to fans during the drivers parade

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

“As part of our ongoing fight against online abuse, recent studies have shown that there is a direct link between negative comments from drivers and team members and increased hatred towards officials on social media,” the statement said.

“At the last World Motor Sport Council, members agreed to change the definition of misconduct within the ISC, following incidents where leading members of our sport made statements to officials that incited abuse.”

This is not the first change to the International Sporting Code in recent times.

At the end of 2022, an article was added banning “the general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments which are notably contrary to the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA ​​in its Statutes, unless previously approved in writing by the FIA ​​for international competitions, or by the relevant ASN for national competitions within their jurisdiction”.

After several drivers expressed concerns about the impact of the measure on their freedom to express their personal opinions, clarification was provided in early 2023.

According to Ben Sulayem, it was important to update some of the rules, as he felt they were outdated.

“The rules are not there just to stay the same for 30 years. You have to improve, change, remove and add, a lot of things. And I don’t do that. We have committees, they study it,” Ben Sulayem noted.

“I didn’t write it, this was about ethics and neutrality of speech. But did you know we had it from 1972? Nobody knew! From ’72!

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President

Photo by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images

“You can’t go to a country and abuse a country. Because they pay all that money.

“If you don’t like it (there), don’t go there. If you take a license from the FIA, you have to respect the source that gives you the license.

“We are happy with the drivers,” Ben Sulayem stressed. “Go and have fun. Do what you are best at and race.

“And we are happy with the promoter. Go and make money. And more money. But we also have to respect the sport. I bring the spirit of the sport.

“I also try to bring ethics, balance, honesty and clarity with my background and 40 years of experience. And that is a very, very heavy responsibility. But it is achievable.”