The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association has released an open
letter to push back against the FIA and its stance on swearing, following
punishments for both Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen was ordered to carry out “some work of public
interest” after swearing in an FIA press conference at the Singapore Grand
Prix, while Ferrari driver Leclerc was handed a €10,000 fine (half of which
suspended) for using a swear word during a press conference at Interlagos at
the weekend.
GPDA hit back at FIA president over swearing: ‘Our
members are adults’
The FIA expanded its ability to punish drivers under the
term of ‘misconduct’ under president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who has looked to
clamp down on bad language used in official settings.
He previously courted controversy for explaining in an
interview this was because the sport should “differentiate between our
sport – motorsport – and rap music”, for which Lewis Hamilton responded
by suggesting
was “stereotypical” language which included a “racial element”.
Now, the GPDA – the trade union representing all Formula
1 drivers – has released an open letter to respond to how they are being
treated on this issue, with disdain being voiced over fines for swearing and a
clampdown on jewellery being worn in their cars earlier this season.
On behalf of “the directors and chairman of the GPDA
on behalf of the grand prix drivers”, the letter said: “As is the case with
every sport, competitors must abide by the referee’s decision, whether they
agree with it or not. That is how sport works. The drivers (our members), are
no different, and fully understand that.
“With regards to swearing, there is a difference between
swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing, such as you might
use to describe bad weather, or indeed an inanimate object such as an F1 car,
or a driving situation.
“We urge the FIA president to consider his own tone and
language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a
public forum or otherwise.
“Further, our members are adults. They do not need to be
given instructions by the media about matters as trivial as the wearing of
jewellery or underpants.”
The letter added: “The GPDA has, on countless occasions, expressed its view that driver monetary fines are not appropriate for our sport.
