Formula 1 drivers — along with all of those competing in FIA championships — are at risk of heavy fines, month-long bans and deductions of points for repeat criticisms of the governing body and misconduct such as swearing.
The topic of drivers swearing became a significant one in the latter half of 2024, after an attempted clampdown by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Max Verstappen was mandated to carry out “some work of public interest” for using an expletive to describe his car’s handling during a press conference in Singapore, leading to him offering little in the way of responses during the official FIA press conferences, and carry out impromptu media sessions outside.
Many of Verstappen’s rivals spoke out against the situation, with an open letter from the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) calling on Ben Sulayem to consider his own language when speaking to them and asking to be treated like adults.
However, a recently published appendix to the International Sporting Code outlines the penalties available to stewards for misconduct — including swearing — and “Any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA.”
The first offense carries a base punishment of a €40,000 ($41,600) fine, while the second escalates to €80,000 ($83,200) and a suspended one-month suspension. A third such offense would then receive a fine of €120,000 ($124,800) and a one-month suspension as well as the deduction of championship points.
The fines are highest for F1 drivers, as a multiple of four of the initial base figures of €10,000, €20,000 and €30,000 ($10,400, $20,800 and $31,200) respectively for each incident. All other FIA world championships will have those amounts multiplied by three, and regional championships sees the fines doubled.
The appendix adds: “Stewards have the authority to decide what penalty to enforce in the event of a breach of the FIA International Sporting Code and/or the applicable FIA regulations. Stewards retain the discretion to take into account any mitigating and/or aggravating circumstances as well as the nature and location of the event, to tailor the penalty to the specific situation.”
The ISC defines misconduct as “the general use of language (written or verbal), gesture and/or sign that is offensive, insulting, coarse, rude or abusive and might reasonably be expected or be perceived to be coarse or rude or to cause offense, humiliation or to be inappropriate,” as well as “assaulting (elbowing, kicking, punching, hitting, etc.)” or incitement to do any of the items listed.
The BBC quotes a source as saying the appendix was pushed through via “a snap e-vote” rather than discussed at the next World Motor Sport Council meeting. While the FIA did not comment on the process, a spokesperson says the intention is to have clarity over penalties for greater consistency.
“The new appendix B to the FIA International Sporting Code aims to further enhance transparency and consistency in decision-making,” the spokesperson said. “All major governing bodies, including the likes of NFL, FIFA and IOC have similar rules/ fines to protect the integrity of the sport. The FIA is not alone in fining competitors for misconduct.
“The aim of this new appendix is to provide clear guidance to stewards regarding the penalties for violations of specific ISC articles. By establishing a more structured framework, the FIA seeks to ensure that penalties are applied uniformly and transparently, benefiting both stewards and Drivers/Competitors.
“Stewards have the authority to decide what penalty to enforce in the event of a breach of the International Sporting Code and/or the applicable FIA regulations. Stewards retain the discretion to take into account any mitigating and/or aggravating circumstances as well as the nature and location of the event, to tailor the penalty to the specific situation.”
