FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem faces mounting criticism after introducing stricter regulations on driver conduct.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has created further furore over his controversial stance against swearing in Formula 1, sparking debate over free expression in the sport.
Now, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has suggested further restrictions on F1 radio communications.
Ben Sulayem‘s FIA leadership is again under scrutiny as critics question his latest push to clamp down on driver language and potentially censor team radio communications.
The “No Swearing” Rule and Its Backlash
The issue of swearing in F1 came to the forefront last season. Max Verstappen was ordered to complete public service for using expletives during an FIA press conference.
At the same time, Charles Leclerc was hit with a €10,000 fine (half of which was suspended) for a similar offence.
In response, the FIA introduced updates to the International Sporting Code. This allows them to punish drivers for “any misconduct,” statements causing “moral injury” to the FIA, and even comments violating their strict neutrality policy.
Many saw these measures as unnecessary and restrictive. Fans and pundits alike were criticising the FIA for attempting to sanitise the sport.
Formula 1 has long been a high-pressure environment where emotions run high.
Drivers expressing frustration over the radio—or even in press conferences—has always been part of the spectacle. Some perceived the attempt to curb swearing as an overreach, creating an almost corporate-like environment that limits natural reactions from competitors.
Potential Team Radio Restrictions
The controversy deepened when Ben Sulayem, speaking at a press conference in Madrid, suggested that the FIA could even consider shutting down live team radio communications as part of efforts to regulate driver conduct. When asked about the matter, he responded:
“Do we go on and then shut down the radios of live communications? Maybe. Do we delay it? Maybe.”
While it remains unclear whether he was referring to the broadcasted team radio messages or internal driver-pit wall communication, the idea of limiting access to these transmissions has sparked strong reactions.
Currently, radio messages are already subject to censorship. Live race broadcasts are featuring delayed and filtered messages to remove offensive language. However, fans with premium TV packages can listen to unfiltered team radio through live onboard feeds, and any changes could impact this accessibility.
The suggestion of delaying or shutting down radio broadcasts has raised concerns that the FIA is becoming too focussed on controlling narratives rather than allowing the sport to be its authentic, raw self. Fans have pointed out that hearing the drivers’ emotions in real-time is an integral part of what makes Formula 1 so engaging.
Growing Frustration with Ben Sulayem
This controversy adds to the growing criticism of Ben Sulayem’s tenure as FIA President. He has already been accused of micromanaging the sport, implementing unnecessary rule changes, and creating tensions with F1 stakeholders.
Feature Image Credit: @ben_sulayem | X
