Formula 1 is at the start of another break, as the season heads into the closing stretch. The grid will be quiet until later this month when the season’s final triple-header kicks off with the second Las Vegas Grand Prix.
However, the drama rolls on.
Yesterday came the news that Sauber had decided on their second driver for next season, tapping former F3 champion Gabriel Bortoleto as their pick to drive alongside Nico Hülkenberg on a “multi-year” deal.
Today comes the news that the current drivers on the grid wish to be treated as “adults” by the sport’s governing body.
The Grand Prix Drivers Association, comprised of the current 20 F1 drivers, released a statement in response to recent misconduct punishments levied against two drivers — Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc — for swearing during an FIA Press Conference. Verstappen was ordered to complete a day of community service after describing his car as being “a bit f****d” in a news conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.
As for Leclerc, he was hit with a €10,000 fine after he slipped and said “f***” when discussing a near crash in the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Here is the letter in full:
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 jewelry and underpants.
The GPDA has, on countless occasions, expressed its view that driver monetary fines are not appropriate for our sport. For the past three 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.
Best regards,
The Directors and Chairman of the GPDA on behalf of the Grand Prix Drivers.
Speaking with the media, including SB Nation, in Austin ahead of the United States Grand Prix George Russell, the current director of the GPDA, indicated that a statement like this might be coming. “Between the drivers a lot has been spoken regarding, you know, swearing. It does seem a little bit silly that it has come to this,” began Russell. “I mean, we’ve yet to speak with the FIA as of yet but we hope to do so probably next week, maybe, in Mexico.
“But collectively, we’re all on the same page. I think, yeah, next week we’ll probably formally put something towards you guys to read from the drivers.”
Russell even gave a preview of what today’s letter might contain.
“Generally speaking, we don’t wanna be taking away the heat of the moment, emotions that drivers show during racing. I think it is down to maybe the broadcast when it comes to the race to choose if they want to broadcast that or not. It is very challenging for some drivers. When you have a microphone, you’re talking with your team during the middle of battle,” said Russell.
“But equally if it’s in an environment like this, maybe we have a duty just to be conscious of our words.”
Without question the most notable aspect of the letter from the GPDA is the reference to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, asking him to “consider his own tone and language when talking about drivers.” The FIA President received some criticism when, regarding Verstappen’s incident in Singapore, he said in an interview with Autosport that F1 needed to “differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music.
“We’re not rappers, you know,” continued the FIA President. “They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”
Ben Sulayem’s remarks drew criticism from many, including Lewis Hamilton, who referred to the comments as using “stereotypical” language. ”Saying ‘rappers’ is very stereotypical. If you think about it, most rappers are black,” said Hamilton. “So when it says: ‘We are not like them’, those are the wrong choice of words. There is a racial element there.”
The letter from the GPDA also recalls previous instances when the sport, led by Ben Sulaymen, has cracked down on driver behavior. In the buildup to the inaugural Miami Grand Prix the FIA issued a directive barring drivers from wearing jewelry or neck chains during races.
