Under new regulations adopted by the International Automobile Federation, Formula One drivers could be suspended or lose championship points if they use profanity or express political opinions.
This situation could sour the relationship between the series and the drivers, who already criticized the FIA last year after Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were punished for blaspheming during press conferences of the organization which oversees motor racing on the planet.
These measures, published by the FIA on Wednesday, fall under the heading of “misconduct”, which includes foul language, physical attacks as well as gestures which can lead to “psychological injuries” and affect the credibility of the FIA or the car racing in general.
Similar sanctions will be imposed for “political, religious or personal comments or opinions which may contravene the policy of neutrality to which the FIA adheres”, unless written permission has been obtained in advance.
These new rules are to serve as guidelines “to support the stewards” who must impose sanctions and fines starting at 40,000 euros ($59,940) in the case of a first offense for a driver. Typical fines start at 10,000 euros ($14,980), but those imposed on F1 drivers are four times higher.
-Fines will double for a second offense, and will be accompanied by a one-month suspension. A third offense within two years would result in a fine of 120,000 euros ($179,810) for an F1 driver, a one-month suspension and the loss of an unspecified number of ranking points. .
In cases of “political, religious or personal comments or opinions which could contravene the policy of neutrality to which the FIA adheres”, the FIA specifies that the stewards should demand from the offending driver “a public apology as well as an official retraction”.
