George Russell slams FIA over ‘ridiculous’ penalty C…read more
George Russell has taken aim at Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, after it quietly watered down a controversial policy that policed drivers’ language in front of microphones and cameras.
At the start of the 2024 season the FIA unveiled harsh sanctions for anyone who swore during official press conferences or live TV interviews. The move came to a head when Max Verstappen let slip an expletive in the post-race media session at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. For that single word he was hit with a community-service-style punishment, and the incident triggered a wider clamp-down: first-time offenders could be fined as much as €40,000 (about £33,700), while habitual transgressors risked an outright race ban. Unsurprisingly, the rule immediately drew fire from the entire grid. Every driver signed an open letter urging the federation to “treat us like adults,” and Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) director George Russell became one of its most vocal critics.
This week, on the eve of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, the FIA quietly circulated a revised disciplinary guide. The maximum penalty for a first offence has been chopped to €5,000 (around £4,200), and the threat of a ban has been removed altogether. While Russell welcomes the U-turn, he remains frustrated that the sport ever backed itself into such a corner.
“We’re looking at something that should never have existed,” he told reporters, including those from GPFans. “Yes, it’s positive that common sense has prevailed, but there’s an odd feeling that we’re meant to be grateful the rule was fixed instead of questioning why it was imposed in the first place.”
The Mercedes driver argued that F1 is an intense, emotional environment and occasional slip-ups are inevitable. He also pointed out the inconsistency of singling out swear words while the sport promotes adrenaline-fuelled, high-risk action that naturally triggers raw reactions. “Fans tune in for authenticity,” he added. “We shouldn’t be muzzled in the heat of the moment.”
Even with the rollback, the FIA’s code of conduct still features steep fines for more serious breaches. Any competitor found guilty of “public incitement to violence or hatred” now faces a minimum penalty of €20,000 (£16,800), highlighting the federation’s desire to clamp down on language it views as truly harmful rather than merely colorful.
Behind the scenes, paddock sources say the GPDA lobbied hard for months, producing data that showed negligible backlash from spectators when drivers cursed on air. Teams also warned the FIA that draconian punishments risked turning press briefings into sterile corporate recitations, alienating younger viewers who expect spontaneous, unfiltered personalities.
The amended guidelines are likely to take immediate effect, meaning any salty language at Imola will now carry a much lighter financial sting and no sporting jeopardy. Yet Russell insists the episode should serve as a lesson. “The dialogue between drivers and regulators has to be continuous,” he said. “Rules made in isolation, without understanding how they play out in reality, just create unnecessary friction.”
Whether the new approach finally draws a line under the swearing saga remains to be seen, but for now drivers can breathe a little easier—at least until the next heated post-race debrief prompts another colorful turn of phrase.
