The FIA has asked Formula One Management to minimise the amount of foul language that is broadcast on Formula 1’s television productions, Autosport can reveal.
While swear words are bleeped out on the official TV feed, the growing frequency of such outbursts has become a cause of concern for motor racing’s governing body.
In an exclusive interview with Autosport, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed he is making moves to try to change the tone of the content that is aired to fans.
He says the drivers themselves have a certain responsibility to monitor what they are saying, before adding that a request has been put in to FOM to limit the communication of bad language.
“We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music,” Ben Sulayem said.
“We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”
Ben Sulayem, a 14-time Middle East Rally champion, says he well understands the frustrations that competitors face, but he thinks standards have to be upheld.
“I know, I was a driver,” he pointed out. “In the heat of the moment, when you think you are upset because another driver came to you and pushed you…
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President
Photo by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images
“When I used to drive in the dust [and something like that happened], I would get upset. But also, we have to be careful with our conduct. We need to be responsible people.
“And now with the technology, everything is going live and everything is going to be recorded. At the end of the day, we have to study that to see: do we minimise what is being said publicly?
“Because imagine you are sitting with your children and watching the race and then someone is saying all of this dirty language.
“I mean, what would your children or grandchildren say? What would you teach them if that is your sport?”
Asked if the FIA could require FOM to limit the usage of team radio containing foul language in the TV broadcast, Ben Sulayem confirmed this was already happening.
“We can and we are,” Ben Sulayem replied. “We are the ones who actually approved more [radio] talk [on the TV broadcast].
“But we have rules, and the rules are there for the benefit of the sport and the rules are there to be policed and to be respected also.”
New FIA standards
Ben Sulayem made his comment about drivers not being rappers after he was asked…
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