Latest FIA Rules Cause an Uproar Among Formula 1 Drivers
With the 2025 season quickly approaching, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobil, also known as the FIA, announced a change of rules. The “misconduct” rules prohibit drivers from using written or spoken language and gestures seen as rude, offensive, insulting, or abusive. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem implemented this rule to ensure less swearing and criticism of the FIA next season. However, many members of the FIA were against this new policy. Sulayem argued that Formula 1 should follow in other sport’s footsteps, like football, where athletes face penalties for their misconduct. With only two months left until lights are out in Australia, many drivers are already scrambling to prepare for the stressful season, and the FIA’s new rules have just added more stress.
Different penalties will be enforced based on the severity and number of times drivers break the rules. First offenses will result in €10,000 to €15,000 fines and a public apology. Second offenses will result in €20,000 to €30,000 fines and a one-month suspension. Third offenses will result in €30,000 to €45,000 fines, suspensions, and a deduction of points in the championship, putting drivers behind on their success. The new misconduct rules were introduced because of a few incidents last season. During the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Sulayem said he wanted to hear less swearing on the radio. Although swear words are bleeped out for television, Sulayem argued that swearing is unnecessary in sports. His desire for new misconduct rules came to a head when four-time World Champion Max Verstappen swore during a press conference. However, since no rules stopped drivers from swearing, they got away with it every time.
The new rules fueled more tensions between the FIA and the drivers, leading to concerns about the driver’s relations with the organization. Due to this, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, known as the GPDA, made an open letter to Sulayem arguing that the fines were unnecessary in Formula 1 and demanding to know where the money accumulated from fines would be used. F1 teams, such as Red Bull Racing, made subtle comments on social media, expressing their anger with the rules change. With the season already full of new drivers and transfers, the new rules bring more chaos to the 2025 grid.
