After the FIA revealed their decision to revise the Formula 1 swearing ban, former teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton expressed their views on the situation ahead of the Imola GP. The updated code has now slashed fines for a first offence from €40,000 to €5,000, and removed the initial threat of a ban for second offences.
Russell slams the swearing ban
At the beginning of the year, Formula 1 drivers were threatened with heavy fines, potential suspensions and even championship points deductions for swearing or making political statements. In light of extreme backlash from both drivers and fans, the penalty backtracking has only furthered frustrations with the policy. Speaking on the situation, Russell indicated his irritation with the FIA’s stance to begin with.
“We’re talking about a situation where things have been reverted because it was a little bit ludicrous in the first place.
“So it feels a bit wrong to be thanking [the FIA] for the changes when we shouldn’t have been in that place to begin with.”
While he admitting how he is glad to see the change, Russell further asserted his annoyance over the FIA’s swearing ban one-eighty.
“Of course we’re happy to see that it [has been changed], but it should never have been there in the first place, if that makes sense.”
Frustrations with FIA’s lack of collaboration
As director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, Russell then stated the blatant lack of transparency between FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the drivers. Expanding on the sub-par communication he stated:
“I wouldn’t say it’s gotten to a point of no return, but you at least want to see willingness from the other party.
“I think we feel we’ve put our views forward, and we want to have conversations and dialogue, and there’s only so much you can ask.”
Hamilton backs up claims over the swearing controversy
Communicating similar feelings, to his former teammate, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton aptly summarised the absurdity of the entire saga.
“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.”
