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F1 Drivers Ask the FIA President: Bro, What Are We, Five?

F1 Drivers Ask the FIA President: Bro, What Are We, Five?

It's finally happened. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem (MBS) has overstepped a step too far with his latest bout of edicts handed down to the F1 drivers about their conduct. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was not only issued a fine, but given community service, because he said one swear word in a post race press conference, not directed at another team, driver, or other personnel, and shortly after at the next race, a fine was issued to Ferrari driver Charles LeClerc for saying one swear word, again, not directed at anyone, but not given community service because apparently immediately apologizing means, you really didn't mean it. What are these drivers, five?

FIA President Ben Sulayem
FIA President Ben Sulayem

So now, since adult matters can't be handled by adults, the drivers have put out their own statement calling MBS out and asking for transparency after not only the matter of swearing, but the ridiculous back and forth that was previous seasons edicts that the drivers can't wear jewelry or their wedding rings and the need to wear specific underwear all of which created a useless spectacle in the media that had nothing to do with promoting the sport in a healthy way.

GPDA STATEMENT
As is the case with every sport, competitors must abide by the referee’s decision, whether they like it or not, indeed whether they agree with it or not. That is how sport works. The Drivers (our members) are no different, and fully understand that.

Our members are professional drivers, racing in Formula 1, the pinnacle of international motorsport. They are the gladiators and every racing weekend they put on a great show for the fans.

With regards to swearing, there is a difference between swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing, such as you might use to describe bad weather, or indeed an inanimate object such as a Formula 1 car, or a driving situation.

We urge the FIA President to also consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise. Further, our members are adults, they do not need to be given instructions via the media, about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery and underpants.

The GPDA has, on countless occasions, expressed its view that Driver monetary fines are not appropriate for our Sport. For the past 3 years, we have called upon the FIA President to share the details and strategy regarding how the FIA's financial fines are allocated and where the funds are spent. We have also relayed our concerns about the negative image financial fines bring to the Sport. We once again request that the FIA President provides financial transparency and direct, open dialogue with us. All stakeholders (FIA, F1, the Teams and the GPDA) should jointly determine how and where the money is spent for the benefit of our Sport.

The GPDA wishes to collaborate in a constructive way with all the stakeholders, including the FIA President, in order to promote our great Sport for the benefit of everyone who works in it, pays for it, watches it, and indeed loves it. We are playing our part.

F1 Drivers Ask the FIA President: Bro, What Are We, Five?


MBS says that the reason they should be fined is that children are watching the sport and the drivers are role models. Sure, its one thing if a driver is flipping someone off, punching them in the face, and saying they should burn in hell on live tv, but you ask me, driving around in my car, who was almost hit head on last week, what I said in that moment, and it was most certainly "FUCK!!!!!"

Role models do not have to be perfect people. No one is. They are admired generally for their actions and what they do for the community. Swearing doesn't make you a bad person, and most drivers are respectful of others and in the media for the most part, but an occasional swear word, and the sky is falling---they need to calm down. Let's all collectively point to Guenther Steiner who would have about a billion dollar fine jar if we counted up all the times he let one slip!

F1 Drivers Ask the FIA President: Bro, What Are We, Five?
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