How an answer to the FIA president’s gripes lies in a pre-Abu Dhabi 2021 arrangement

‘WTF?’ Seems the appropriate response to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem revealing recently that he wants Formula One Management to limit bad language in live broadcasts.

It certainly had that effect during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend – spectacularly managing to distract from the on-track action in this unexpectedly exciting 2024 Formula 1 season.

When Max Verstappen tested the waters with an F-bomb in the pre-event press conference and was slapped with a community service sanction (alone astonishing given Ferrari and Mercedes team bosses Fred Vasseur and Toto Wolff got off with warnings for the same thing in a vitamin D-deficient Las Vegas press conference), observers duly connected the dots and decided that an example was being made.

There have been rumblings elsewhere. World Rally legend Sebastien Ogier had been given a huge suspended fine for comments made at the Acropolis Rally where he (albeit sans swearing) criticised stage organisers. But when Verstappen – with unusual deftness – opted to protest against what’s being seen as a clampdown on freedom of expression by holding his own press huddle in the paddock, it took the melodrama to new heights.

It says a lot that Verstappen – the driver who used appalling language after a practice shunt with Lance Stroll at the 2020 Portuguese GP, and exploded with rage in a press conference after the Silverstone clash with Lewis Hamilton in 2021 – is the voice of reason.

Just as with jewellery-gate, the intentions behind the FIA’s effort have been lost amid the noise. Back in early 2022, the governing body acting proactively to avoid a driver suffering serious burns in a crash was pretty reasonable.

That it was communicated clumsily was the problem. And so again here on driver language.

Verstappen made his displeasure with the situation known in Singapore

Photo by: Ben Hunt

Ben Sulayem muddied the waters by complaining about a problem F1 broadcasts already tackle by bleeping the expletives. He even said as much.

With the drivers kicking off over a misunderstanding, it has been forgotten that Ogier’s sanction stemmed from the FIA wanting to avoid social media abuse against officials that competitors – consciously or otherwise – can unleash with their online followings.

Better explanation of complex decisions is the answer here – not asking drivers to not react like human beings. That’s whether driving in the heat of the moment or if they later disagree with a stewarding decision. Clamping down was bound to backfire given past events.

As a handy aside, remember how until Abu Dhabi 2021, and even during Covid-19 restrictions, the now castigated and cast aside F1 race director Michael Masi would hold post-race briefings to explain calls made by officials. Exactly the sort of thing that would have been critical in regaining public trust in the aftermath of the Abu Dhabi scandal. But this has disappeared.

Better explanation of complex decisions is the answer here – not asking drivers to not react like human beings

As Ben Sulayem puts it – that the FIA “never gets the credit” – ultimately stems from its decision-making often appearing unfathomable. In some cases it does issue an explanation eventually but is constricted by its processes and complexity.

A governing body also shouldn’t be crying for recognition. It’s a somewhat unenviable position of not being acknowledged when things are going correctly, but that is the basis for functioning society – people, rightly, just expect things that should work, to work.

Drivers shouldn’t be impeded from being people – their flaws make them interesting. It shows the scale of the problem that so many people regard what’s happening now as a restriction on freedom of expression.

And the real kicker? F1 fans love the extra information – such as that Masi used to provide in those briefings. Healthy discussion, even with a few words some won’t want to hear occasionally, is always better. And praise may even follow.

Briefings to media given by Masi have not been held since the Abu Dhabi 2021 scandal that cost him his job

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images