Tensions are simmering among Formula 1 drivers as they grapple with the FIA’s recent sanction imposed on Max Verstappen for using profanity during a press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.
The one-day public service punishment handed to the Dutch driver has led to concern within the paddock about the governing body’s new hardline stance, with the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) stepping in and planning talks behind closed doors to discuss the issue.
The incident that triggered the controversy unfolded during an official FIA press conference last week in Singapore when Verstappen, in response to a question about Red Bull’s recent struggles, let slip the F-word to describe his car.
Just a day after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem revealed a request to Formula One Management to take steps to reduce the amount of swearing broadcast during F1 races, the officials’ reaction to Verstappen’s discourse was swift.
The Dutchman was hit with a public service penalty, a sanction he found bewildering.
But the FIA’s decision has not just upset Verstappen, it has also resonated with many of the latter’s colleagues, who exchanged views on the matter in the private GPDA WhatsApp group.
“Yeah, for sure,” Verstappen said when asked if his fellow drivers supported him. “Of course, I wrote in the GPDA [chat] the ruling, and everyone was almost laughing like, 'what the hell is that' basically. So, yeah, it is very, very silly.”
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After last Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, Verstappen told the media that the FIA’s uncompromising attitude could lead him to walk away from the sport.
Steeping into the fray, Wurz questioned the inconsistency in the application of the rules, while advocating for a measured approach.
“How many lifetime community services would Guenther Steiner have to serve for using the F-word? He was glorified for using the F-word,” the GPDA chairman told Formel1.de in an interview on the latter’s YouTube channel.
“Netflix broadcast this worldwide, no problem. But then to suddenly change like that?
“I have to say: [the choice of words] is not my personal taste as a driver. As GPDA chairman, I have to officially say that we will, of course, discuss it internally, first reach a full consensus, and then we will consider whether and in what form we will talk to the FIA and the president.”
In stark contrast to the FIA’s public reprimand, Wurz advocates for resolving the issue through private dialogue rather than media confrontations.
“Personally, I always believe, and we also do this at the GPDA: we solve it internally,” he said. “We don't go through the media.
“Very rarely does something go from the GPDA to the media because we simply try to solve things internally for the sake of the sport and want to bring the people and the individual key stakeholders on our journey together.”
The drivers' concern is not just about defending the right to use colorful language but about preserving their ability to express themselves freely in a sport where emotions often run high.
Wurz underscored the importance of allowing drivers to be authentic, albeit within reasonable limits.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali with GPDA Chairman Alex Wurz.
“I think drivers have to be allowed to express themselves authentically to some extent,” argued the former F1 driver.
“Of course, it shouldn't be personally offensive, and it shouldn't be discriminatory either. They've all come a long way in that regard. So, for me personally, the penalty is too severe.”
The GPDA’s upcoming discussions will aim to establish a unified position on the matter, balancing the need for professional decorum with the drivers' right to express their emotions.
The outcome of these talks could shape the future of driver-media interactions and set a precedent for how the FIA regulates conduct in an increasingly scrutinized sport.
As the drivers prepare to present their case to the FIA, one thing is clear: they are determined to ensure their voices are heard – profanity and all.
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