P1racenews AI automatic summary:
FIA announce new F1 penalty rules ahead of Imola Grand Prix
The FIA has confirmed a rule change on penalties for swearing received by drivers, as announced by Mohammed Ben Sulayem. This announcement follows a recent controversy involving Formula 1 drivers and other FIA-led series competitors regarding swearing, with Max Verstappen receiving a community service-style penalty for swearing during a press conference last October. FIA President Ben Sulayem faced backlash regarding the crackdown on swearing, prompting a review culminating in changes to Appendix B of the sporting regulations. The maximum penalty for a breach has been halved to €5000, with allowances for on-track language over controlled environments like press conferences. The FIA aims to promote sportsmanship in motorsport while giving stewards clear guidelines to address misconduct, acknowledging the emotional nature of competition. These changes will take effect immediately, starting with this weekend’s race at Imola, emphasizing the importance of drivers’ conduct as role models and ambassadors for motorsport. President of the FIA drivers’ committee, Ronan Morgan, highlights the distinction between race-time and press conference language, emphasizing the code’s support for drivers under competitive pressure.
