The FIA penalty against Max Verstappen, who was “sentenced” to “community service” in the sense of motorsport for using the word “fucked” in the FIA press conference on Thursday, has apparently caused quite a stir in the joint WhatsApp group of the Formula 1 drivers’ union GPDA.
“Nobody in the GPDA WhatsApp group thinks it’s really cool. Of course, all the drivers are excited about it,” says “ORF” expert Alexander Wurz, who used to drive in Formula 1 himself and still supports and leads the drivers’ union as chairman.
Wurz’s colleagues, who are still active, are particularly dissatisfied with the fact that FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem did not discuss the hard line on the ban on swearing directly with the drivers, “but that they immediately come out publicly and impose the punishment.” This is “extraordinary,” the Austrian says, surprised.
Wurz fears for the authenticity of the drivers
It is not the case that drivers are fundamentally against thinking about their choice of words: “Of course you have to be careful when choosing language. But nowadays it is also difficult for a driver to be authentic and to be who he wants to be.”
“This is how Formula 1 has become so popular – because the drivers are allowed to be a little more like who they are. Authentically. And they show that on social media. This also includes an individual language,” says Wurz.
He agrees with Verstappen on one point: strong language, such as that used on Thursday in Singapore, which is not directed at another person, is less problematic. It is more difficult when someone is insulted personally.
But that was not the case with the Verstappen penalty, as the commissioners explicitly stated in their verdict. “Personally, I’m not a fan of verbally attacking competitors. But if he complains about his car now, then he has to sort it out with his team boss,” says Wurz.
Pit radio: Then just don’t broadcast!
What is particularly annoying from the GPDA’s point of view is that weeks ago, when an outburst of anger by Yuki Tsunoda was on the “watch list” at the Formula 1 decision-making level, the drivers’ union suggested that problematic radio messages should simply not be broadcast on TV.
A suggestion that some drivers are now repeating in Singapore. Wurz also says: “Boys, FOM, FIA: You control which radio messages are shown. If you think that this choice of language is not okay, then simply don’t put it on the air.”
What the drivers are less bothered about is the reprimand to refrain from using strong language in press conferences and interviews in the future. There is a broad consensus that this can be demanded. However, the pit radio is a subject that is sacred to the drivers – because it is almost impossible to control every emotion when driving a racing car at over 300 km/h.
And bin Sulayem didn’t make any new friends among the drivers with his interference in an interview before Singapore. Wurz shrugs his shoulders and says: “We just have to get used to the fact that the FIA President does business the way he thinks is best.”
Source: www.sport.de
