P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alex Wurz, chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), revealed that Formula 1’s drivers learnt of the FIA’s stricter fines for swearing through the media.
Last year, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem called for a ban on F1 driver swearing, aiming to differentiate the sport from rap music, sparking criticism from Lewis Hamilton due to perceived stereotypical language. Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were penalized for swearing during FIA press conferences, with Verstappen tasked with public interest work and Leclerc fined 10,000 euros. In 2025, swearing fines were increased to €40,000 for the first offense, €80,000 and a suspension for the second, and €120,000, a suspension, and championship point deduction for the third. Lack of transparency between FIA and drivers led the GPDA to pen an open letter to promote dialogue and express concerns over fines, met with refusal and dismissal from Ben Sulayem regarding driver involvement in financial matters. The call for improved FIA-GPDA relations highlights ongoing tensions and challenges in communication and decision-making processes within Formula One.
