Formula One’s drivers have launched a scathing attack on FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and demanded to be treated like adults after a host of recent disputes.
The former rally driver has been told in an open letter to consider his own “language” after he had said the grid’s stars should stop swearing on the radio and acting like “rappers”.
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc have both been punished over their language in recent weeks, with the Dutchman asked to “accomplish some work of public interest” after describing his car as “f—-d” at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton urged Verstappen to ignore the sanction, saying he believed comments from Ben Sulayem carried a “racial element” as a row escalated.
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) has now upped the ante by criticising Ben Sulayem for his “tone and language”.
“There is a difference between swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing, such as you might use to describe bad weather, or indeed an inanimate object such as an F1 car, or a driving situation,” the letter on behalf of drivers read.
Drivers tired of being patronised
“We urge the FIA president to consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise.
“Our members are professional drivers, racing in Formula 1, the pinnacle of international motorsport. They are the gladiators and every racing weekend they put on a great show for the fans.”
The letter then cites a long-running duel Hamilton had with Ben Sulayem over the wearing of jewellery in his Mercedes cockpit.
“Further, our members are adults,” the drivers’ statement continued. “They do not need to be given instructions by the media about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery or underpants.”
Hamilton was forced to remove his nose stud ahead of the 2022 British Grand Prix before he was afforded an FIA medical exemption to wear the piercings following “concerns about disfigurement” the following season.
Where do all the fines go?
The GPDA letter also addresses concerns over where the money from fines is distributed, asking the sport’s governing body for transparency.
“The GPDA has, on countless occasions, expressed its view that driver monetary fines are not appropriate for our sport,” the letter continues.
“For the past three years, we have called upon the FIA president to share the details and strategy regarding how the FIA’s financial fines are allocated and where the funds are spent. We have also relayed our concerns about the negative image financial fines bring to the sport.
“We once again request the FIA president provides financial transparency and direct, open dialogue with us.”
In his interview with Autosport, Ben Sulayem said F1 had to “differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music”.
The FIA has been contacted for comment.
