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George Russell Slams FIA’s ‘Ridiculous’ Rules as Swearing Penalties are Reduced
Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell has taken a firm stand against the FIA’s former policy on driver conduct, calling the now-softened rules on swearing “ridiculous” and out of touch with the sport’s realities.
Russell’s comments came ahead of the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, following the FIA’s decision to ease the penalties for drivers using inappropriate language during official F1 events. The 26-year-old Briton, who also serves as the director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), criticized the governing body for implementing such extreme measures in the first place.
“We’re talking about a situation where things have been reversed because they were a bit ridiculous from the start,” Russell told reporters. “Of course, we’re happy that it’s changing, but it shouldn’t have been like this in the first place.”
The original rules introduced last season had allowed for fines up to €40,000 and even race bans for repeated use of swear words during media appearances. The crackdown gained widespread attention when reigning world champion Max Verstappen received a community service penalty for swearing during a press conference at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
Under new guidelines announced this week, the penalty for a first offence has been slashed to €5,000, and the threat of a race ban has been removed entirely. While the move has been broadly welcomed across the paddock, Russell and his fellow drivers maintain that the original policy was an unnecessary overreach.
In a rare show of unity, all 20 drivers signed an open letter urging the FIA to show greater trust in their professionalism. As GPDA director, Russell played a key role in facilitating that pushback and pressing for reform.
While the FIA has backed down on language policing, it has concurrently introduced harsher penalties for more serious breaches, including a €20,000 fine for public incitement to violence or hatred move aimed at distinguishing casual language from genuinely harmful conduct.
As the Formula 1 weekend kicks off in Imola, the focus isn’t solely on lap times and strategy. With drivers like Russell continuing to speak out, the evolving dynamic between athletes and regulators is now firmly in the spotlight.
