Lewis Hamilton and George Russell Blast FIA ...read more

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell Blast FIA President’s …read more

The controversial move to ban foul language was initially introduced at the start of the 2025 season, aiming to preserve professionalism and maintain a family-friendly image for the sport. However, following backlash from drivers and fans alike, Ben Sulayem announced a sudden reversal of the rule this week, calling it a “misstep in policing driver expression.”

Hamilton, a vocal advocate for freedom of speech and driver individuality, did not hold back in his reaction. “It’s confusing and frustrating,” said the seven-time world champion. “First, they want to control how we speak, then they backtrack without acknowledging how out of touch the original decision was. Drivers aren’t robots—we’re passionate human beings.”

His Mercedes teammate George Russell echoed the sentiment. “The U-turn just shows a lack of consistency and understanding,” he said. “You can’t legislate emotion out of sport. This kind of flip-flopping undermines trust in leadership.”

Several other drivers have since expressed relief that the ban was lifted, but concerns remain about the FIA’s decision-making process and its disconnect from the current generation of athletes.

Hamilton and Russell have called for a more open dialogue between the FIA and the drivers, emphasizing the importance of involving athletes in rule-making that directly affects them. “We want to be part of shaping the sport’s future, not just reacting to poorly thought-out rules,” Russell added.

The FIA has yet to issue a detailed explanation for the U-turn, but pressure is mounting for a broader review of how policy changes are communicated and implemented across Formula 1.