Max Verstappen has criticised the FIA over its latest attempt to clamp down on how much bad language is being broadcast through Formula 1‘s television production.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed that a request has been made to Formula One Management (FOM) to restrict how much swearing is being aired.
The rise in team radio exchanges being made available to the public has coincided with the FIA becoming concerned about the rate of phrases including curse words.
FOM ensures that such phrases are covered with bleeps, but Ben Sulayem has suggested that the drivers also maintain a responsibility to recite appropriate language.
“I mean, we have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music,” Ben Sulayem told Autosport.
“We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”
Ben Sulayem has insisted that the drivers must continue to adhere to their status as role models inside the car despite acknowledging the adrenaline that is involved.
“I know, I was a driver,” he added. “In the heat of the moment, when you think you are upset because another driver came to you and pushed you…
“When I used to drive in the dust [and something like that happened], I would get upset. But also, we have to be careful with our conduct. We need to be responsible people.
“And now with the technology, everything is going live and everything is going to be recorded. At the end of the day, we have to study that to see: do we minimise what is being said publicly?
“Because imagine you are sitting with your children and watching the race and then someone is saying all of this dirty language.
“I mean, what would your children or grandchildren say? What would you teach them if that is your sport?”
Verstappen gives response to attempted FIA clampdown
However, Verstappen, who used an expletive to describe his Red Bull car’s handling in Baku, has argued the onus shouldn’t be on the drivers to monitor their language.
Instead, the Dutchman has expressed that the solution to the FIA’s worries lies in FOM themselves moderating how much driver-to-team communication is publicised.
“I think you will swear anyway,” Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week. “If it’s not in this room, maybe somewhere else.
“Everyone swears some people a bit more than others. It also depends a bit what language you speak. Of course, abuse is something else.
“But yeah, I think a lot of things get broadcasted nowadays, where in other sports you don’t run around with a mic attached to you.
“I think a lot of people say a lot of bad things when they are full of adrenaline in other sports. It just doesn’t get picked up.
“We’re here probably for also entertainment purposes. Things get sent out and that’s why people can pick up on it, discuss it on social media and you get all sorts of trouble.
“So I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it. I mean, if you don’t broadcast it, no one will know. Only the team. But with that you deal internally with these kind of things.
“But yeah, it’s just probably a bit the world that we live in within the sport. But also in general, it seems like people are a bit more sensitive to stuff. Yeah, that’s how it goes.
“I mean, I guess the world is changing a bit, but I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it or not giving the option for people to hear it in general.
“Of course, there are a lot of apps where people can listen to radios and stuff.
“You have to probably limit it or have a bit of a delay that you can censor out a few things.
“That will help a lot more than putting bans on drivers because, for example, I couldn’t even say the F-word. I mean, it’s not even that bad, right?
“I mean, the car was not working [in Azerbaijan last weekend]. The car is f’ed. Yeah.”
“Excuse me for the language but come on,” he continued. “Like, what are we? Five-year-olds? Six-year-olds?
“Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching, I mean, they will eventually swear anyway, even if the parents won’t or they will not allow it.
“When they grow up, they will walk around with their friends and they will be swearing. So, you know, this is not changing anything.”
