The pilots of the Formula 1 This Thursday they issued a harsh statement against the FIA and its president, Mohammed ben Soulayemin which they asked him to treat them like “adults” due to the swearing controversy, asking the president to “consider his own tone and language when speaking to athletes.”
“We urge the FIA President to also consider his own tone and language when addressing our driver members, or even when speaking about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise. Furthermore, our members are adults, they do not need to be instructed by the media on such trivial matters as the use of jewelry and underpants,” the statement said. Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA).
Max Verstappenof Red BullAnd Charles Leclercof Ferrarihave been sanctioned in recent weeks for using swear words in their statements at press conferences and on the radio during competition; and the Dutchman was charged with “carrying out work in the public interest”.
Ben Sulayem said in an interview with Motorsport that grid stars had a responsibility to stop swearing on the radio and that they should not behave like “rappers”. Some statements in which the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamiltonwho urged Verstappen to ignore the sanction, saw a “racial element” in it.
Hamilton started it all
In addition, the Briton had an intense and long discussion with the FIA and Ben Sulayem on the use of jewelry, earrings and piercings inside the car. Hamilton was forced to remove his nose ring before the 2022 British Grand Prix before obtaining a medical exemption from the FIA to wear the piercings due to “disfigurement concerns” the following season.
The GDPA is aware that athletes “must respect the decision of the referee, whether they like it or not, whether they agree or not”, because “that is how sport works”, and the drivers are no exception. “And they understand it perfectly. Our members are professional drivers who compete in F1. They are gladiators and every race weekend they put on a great show for the fans,” he defended.
“There is a difference between swearing with the intention of insulting others and more informal swear words, such as those used to describe a bad moment, or even an inanimate object, such as an F1 car, or a driving situation,” argued about the controversy. with language.
The GDPA letter also addresses concerns over the distribution of fines, calling for transparency from F1’s governing body. “Over the past 3 years, we have asked the FIA President to share details and strategy on how FIA financial fines are allocated and where the funds are spent,” the drivers’ statement said.
The pilots raise their voices
“We have also expressed our concern about the negative image that financial fines give to the sport. Once again, we ask the FIA President for financial transparency and a direct and open dialogue with us. “All stakeholders (the FIA, F1, the teams and the GPDA) must jointly determine how and where the money will be spent for the benefit of our sport,” he added.
Finally, the GPDA clarified that it “wishes to engage constructively with all stakeholders, including the FIA President, in order to promote ‘F1’ for the benefit of all those who work ‘in the sport’ , pay for it, they see it and, in fact, they love it. “We are doing our part,” the statement concludes.
