The FIA has introduced new guidelines that could see F1 drivers receive points deductions or a possible ban for misconduct offences, including swearing.
Max Verstappen was ordered to “complete work of public interest” at the end of 2024 after using a slur during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) summoned FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in November in response to the Formula 1 booing saga, which the FIA did not respond to at the time.
On Wednesday, an updated version of the FIA’s International Sporting Code for 2025 was published on the governing body’s website, in addition to details on ‘steward penalty guidelines’ under an Appendix B of the document.
Breaching the misconduct regulations the first time will result in a fine of €40,000 (£34,000) for an F1 driver. A second offense would see a fine of €80,000 (£68,000) and a one-month suspended ban.
A third offense would be punishable by a €120,000 (£102,000) fine, plus a one-month suspension and deduction of championship points.
The same degree of punishment would apply to “any word, deed or writing that has caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executives, and generally to the interest of motor sport and to the values protected by the FIA” and “any public incitement to violence or hatred”.
If a driver is found to have violated “the general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments, in particular in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its Statute, unless previously approved in writing by the FIA for International Competitions, or by the relevant ASN for National Competitions within their jurisdiction”, they will be fined and must also make a full public apology and withdraw their comments.
What about the most extreme punishment?
It is also possible for an F1 driver to be banned if he is judged to have “non-compliance with the FIA guidelines regarding the appointment and participation of persons during official ceremonies in any competition that counts towards an FIA championship”.
One offense would carry a €60,000 (£50,000) fine, with a second offense resulting in a €120,000 (£101,000) fine and “suspension of access to the Reserved Areas of the event for the next event” – as of effectively means a racing ban.
Another breach of the ceremony’s guidelines would see a fine of €180,000 (£152,000) and a six-month suspension from racing.
The guidance document also states that race stewards “have the authority to decide what penalty to apply” in the event of a breach of the sporting code and that “they retain the discretion to take into account any mitigating and/or aggravating circumstances, as well as the nature and location of the event, to adapt the punishment to the specific situation”.
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Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Guenther Steiner gives his thoughts on Max Verstappen being given community service for swearing at a press conference
What happened last year between Verstappen, Ben Sulayem and the FIA?
The issue of profanity came under the spotlight after Ben Sulayem said in an interview published ahead of last September’s Singapore GP that he wanted to see less foul language intercepted by radio sources broadcast on the sources world television of F1.
He said F1 should “make a distinction between our sport – motorsport – and rap music”, which Lewis Hamilton thought was “stereotypical” language with a “racial element”.
While Ben Sulayem, who became FIA president at the end of 2021 with a four-year term, said he had made a request to Formula 1 itself, the sport’s commercial rights holder, he also argued that the drivers themselves had a responsibility to keep their language in mind. .
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Max Verstappen was part of a stunning press conference after qualifying in Singapore after he refused to answer questions in full following a swearing penalty.
Later, on the same day the interview was published, Verstappen was given F1’s equivalent of community service for swearing during a press conference when he described the performance of his Red Bull car, which resulted in him refusing to answer full in the official media appearances that followed during the remainder. of the Singapore weekend.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc then received a €10,000 (£8,420) fine for using a swear word in the post-race press conference at October’s Mexican Grand Prix. Although the stewards took into account the fact that Leclerc had immediately apologized and appeared remorseful, a penalty for breaking the rules was still imposed.
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, of which all 20 F1 drivers are a part, issued a statement in November which touched on several points, including swearing, and said “there is a difference between swearing to insult others and more casual expletives, such as you. can be used to describe bad weather or indeed an inanimate object such as an F1 car, or driving situation”.
The statement also expresses concern about fines and what is done with the money from financial penalties.
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