Bleep! The FIA has relaxed its F1 swearing rules

Finally, some common sense. Sort of. The FIA has watered down its draconian swearing fines after they were condemned by pretty much everyone.

Henceforth, an F1 driver will now be fined €5,000 for a verbal slip-up, instead of the €40,000 that was on the cards when the rules were tightened up in January.

Stewards now have the power to suspend that penalty if it’s a driver’s first offence, and the threat of a race ban has been removed entirely. That sound you can hear is Guenther Steiner high-fiving passing strangers.

The updated regs also let the stewards differentiate between ‘controlled’ and ‘non-controlled’ environments, so drivers won’t be penalised for their language on the team radio but still have to toe the line in official press conferences and on the podium.

However, ‘words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA’ is still listed as an offence, so mouthing off at the governing body is still outlawed.

Also, there's no clarity on how the money collected from those fines will be spent - as was demanded by WRC drivers when Adrien Fourmaux was told to cough up €10,000 for swearing in an interview back in February - and Carlos Sainz would still be fined for the crime of having a tummy bug if he missed the start of another national anthem. Albeit by half as much as last time.

“As a former rally driver, I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition,” said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships, FIA Member Clubs and other motorsports organisations.

“The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motorsport, while also giving Stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute. The FIA will always be committed to ensuring motorsport is accessible for all our sporting family.”

The move comes just a day after Ben Sulayem was criticised for proposed changes to the FIA, with reports suggesting new rules could help him consolidate his power and make it more difficult for someone to stand against him at this year’s upcoming election: last week Carlos Sainz Sr declared that he was weighing up a bid.