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FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has refused to rule out a potential “shutdown” of team radio communications, in regard to Formula 1 drivers swearing.
Ahead of the upcoming 2025 Formula 1 season, the FIA has controversially introduced an update to the International Sporting Code that could result in drivers receiving significant fines for misconduct, up to potential suspensions and points deductions for repeat offences.
The matter of F1 drivers swearing in the professional environment was particularly heightened last season. For example, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was ordered to “accomplish some work of public interest” by the FIA after swearing during a press conference in the lead-up to the Singapore Grand Prix. Similarly, Charles Leclerc was handed a €10,000 fine, half of which was suspended, following an incident at the Mexican GP.
First 5 races of the 2025 season
Round
Grand Prix
Race weekend
1.
Australian GP
14th of March to 16th of March
2.
Chinese GP
21st of March to 23rd of March
3.
Japanese GP
4th of April to 6th of April
4.
Bahrain GP
11th of April to 13th of April
5.
Saudi Arabian GP
18th of April to 20th of April
The sport’s governing body has aimed to crack down further on driver misconduct by implementing a series of changes to the International Sporting Code that allows them to punish drivers for ‘any misconduct’, public incitement of violence or hatred, statements that cause ‘moral injury’ to the FIA or its officials, or making and displaying political, personal or religious statements that violate that FIA’s neutrality principle.
While they are not required to enforce them, the new guidelines provide stewards with the ability to impose substantial forms of punishment if necessary.
During a press conference at Jarama in Madrid, Ben Sulayem was questioned about the options he is considering to tackle unsavoury language over team radio, and in a clip posted on social media by Spanish publication SoyMotor, he responded by giving thought to all possibilities.
“Do we go on and then shut down the radios of live communications? Maybe. Do we delay it? Maybe,” said the FIA president. “There’s a lot of things we will work [on] with our promotors. We are still the owners of the championship.”
It remains unclear as to whether Ben Sulayem was referring to a potential ‘shutdown’ of live radio messages being played on air, or communications between the driver and the pit wall. However, the broadcast option would be more likely due to the safety implications of a driver not being able to communicate in real time with their race engineer.
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