September 19, (THEWILL) – Formula One’s Max Verstappen has criticised the FIA’s stance on driver language, following comments from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem comparing drivers to “foul-mouthed rappers.” The debate centres on the broadcasting of team radio communications, which often contain expletives.
Ben Sulayem expressed concerns about children hearing inappropriate language during races, suggesting that Formula One Management should reduce the amount of swearing aired on television. He emphasised the need for drivers to be mindful of their language, particularly given the family-friendly nature of the sport.
Verstappen, however, argued that swearing is commonplace in high-pressure situations across all sports. He pointed out that other athletes are not constantly recorded, unlike F1 drivers, who wear microphones throughout races. The Dutch champion suggested that if the FIA is worried about language, they should simply not broadcast the radio messages or implement a delay to allow for censorship.
The reigning world champion also questioned the effectiveness of banning swearing, noting that children will eventually encounter such language regardless of restrictions. He emphasised that the issue lies more with the broadcasting decisions than with driver behaviour.
Formula One currently uses a beep system to censor explicit language on global television feeds. Some drivers have previously used deliberate swearing to prevent sensitive information from being broadcast.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
