Lewis Hamilton has gone off on the FIA president’s decision to backtrack on his swearing ban, calling the whole situation “a mess.” George Russell also chimed in, questioning Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s motives for changing the penalties for drivers, saying it all seemed “a bit suspect.”
The Formula 1 governing body, the FIA, faced backlash and decided to revise the penalties for drivers swearing on the track. Initially, drivers could face a hefty €40,000 fine for a first offense and a ban for a second offense. However, the FIA has now reduced the fine to €5,000 and removed the threat of a ban.
Hamilton expressed his frustration with the decision to backtrack, stating, “It is ridiculous. I don’t really know. Nothing I say is going to make any difference to it. It seems a bit of a mess there at the moment.” Russell, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “We’re talking about a situation where things have been reverted because it was a little bit ludicrous in the first place.”
The drivers feel that they should not have been put in a position where such penalties were in place. Russell mentioned that they had not been in direct contact with senior FIA officials and found the lack of communication suspect. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and expressed the drivers’ desire for meaningful conversations on the matter.
It’s clear that the FIA’s decision to backtrack on the swearing ban has left both Hamilton and Russell feeling frustrated and confused. The lack of communication from senior officials has only added to the uncertainty surrounding the situation. As the drivers continue to voice their concerns, it remains to be seen how the FIA will address the issue moving forward.
