DRIVERS are demanding showdown talks with the FIA over a controversial new ban on swearing.
Formula One stars will have to watch their words in the 2025 season after a ban on rude words was introduced.
Drivers want talks with Mohammed Ben Sulayem after the FIA banned swearing[/caption]
Rally star Adrien Fourmaux has already been fined £24,000[/caption]
Drivers roundly criticised it at last week’s F1 75 car launch at the O2 Arena in London.
But it’s not just F1 aces who have been affected by the FIA’s rule change.
Rally star Adrien Fourmaux has already fallen foul of the rule while racing in Sweden.
He was fined £24,000 for saying “f**k” during an event earlier this month.
It ended up being £8k, with £16k suspended for 12 months.
But the punishment has not gone down well with the World Rally Drivers Association (WoRDA).
Officials have now written to the FIA criticising the rule change.
And chiefs are eager to hold a meeting directly with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to express their concerns.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
A statement read: “WoRDA has always recognised our responsibilities and commitment to collaborate in a constructive way with all stakeholders, including the FIA President, in order to promote and elevate our outstanding sport for the benefit of all.
“In recent months, however, there has been an alarming increase in the severity of the sanctions imposed for minor, isolated, and unintentional language lapses. This has reached an unacceptable level.
“We strongly believe that: Common colloquialism cannot be considered and judged as equal to genuine insult or an act of aggression.
“Non-native speakers may use or repeat terms without full awareness of their meaning and connotation. Seconds after an extreme adrenaline spike, it is unrealistic to expect perfect and systematic control over emotions.
“Moreover, the exorbitant fines are vastly disproportionate to the average income and budget in rallying. We are also concerned with the public impression these excessive sums create in the minds of fans, suggesting that this is an industry where money doesn’t matter.
“This also raises a fundamental question: where does the money from these fines go? The lack of transparency only amplifies concerns and undermines confidence in the system.
“Surely, the negative impressions surrounding these penalties far outweigh the impact of any language lapse. We call for direct communication and engagement between the FIA President and WoRDA members to find a mutually agreeable and urgent solution.”
