[1]
Growing Trends
While Formula 1 has always been synonymous with heated battles on track, a non-racing issue has come to the forefront in recent seasons. As Formula 1 (“F1”) drivers have begun to push back, the Fédération Internationale de l’ Automobile's (“FIA”) has furthered their unexpected crackdown on personal style and expression. The FIA is the international body that governs Formula 1, establishing the rules and regulations with the goal of shaping engaging racing, increasing safety, and stimulating innovation across the sport and automative development.[2] In recent years, the FIA has moved to crackdown on various conduct and personal actions of the drivers inside the cockpit, within the paddock, and in the media pen.
Beginning in 2022, the FIA attempted to implement a strict jewelry ban for drivers, as well as mandating the underwear of all drivers be compliant with the FIA regulations. Many drivers openly protested the FIA’s regulations perpetrating continued encroachment into their personal conduct and expression through what seemed to be frivolous demands. Famously, 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and 4-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel were amongst the dissenters. Hamilton for example arrived at the next press conference wearing an abundance of jewelry, blatantly ignoring FIA regulations, stating he believed the issue of jewelry had been blown out of proportion and “way too much time going into this.”[3] The FIA’s crackdown on driver conduct has continued throughout the 2024 season, with the FIA implementing punishments to drivers who cursed in press conferences. This has led to 4-time World Champion Max Verstappen receiving mandated community service following his use of profanity during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix and 8-time Grand Prix Winner Charles Leclerc being handed a €10,000 fine following his use of profanity during the post-race press conference at the Mexico Grand Prix.[4]
Boiling Point
This tension between the FIA and the drivers came to a head at the tail end of the 2024 season, when all 20 drivers on the grid penned an open letter to the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Through the Grand Prix Drivers Association (“GDPA”), drivers articulated their concerns with regards to the FIA’s crackdown on drivers' language, personal expression, and the FIA’s lack of transparency as to the allocation of the fines.[5] Driving at over 200mph through some of the most difficult tracks across the world, it is inevitable that drivers’ emotions run high throughout times of high stress, often resulting in an outburst of profanity and emotion. Furthermore, drivers emphasized the difference between swearing directed at someone with the explicit intention to insult and outbursts in the heat of the moment.[6] While F1 is unique in that driver’s radios are displayed in real time during the races, it is no different to NFL or NBA players being “mic’d up” in which players are consistently heard shouting profanity towards the refs and other players with repercussions from the league that are not nearly as severe as those proposed by the FIA. In the open letter, GDPA President George Russell vocalized this frustration with regards to the FIA’s attempt to limit their verbal and stylistic expression, stating “our members are adults, they do not need to be given instructions via the media, about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewelry and underpants.”[7]
Increasingly, these limitations implemented by the FIA have resulted in monetary fines being placed upon the drivers. The argument put forth by the drivers against the fines was twofold, focusing on the respective look these fines generated for the sport as well as concerns over transparency between the FIA and the drivers about where this money was being spent.[8] The further encroachment by the FIA has been met with great dismay from the drivers who fail to see how these limitations are appropriate for the growth of Formula 1. Neither the drivers nor the pundits find any cohesiveness between the FIA’s decisions, seemingly pulling arbitrary values for these fines without any stringent guidelines for their application. Furthermore, the drivers’ frustration is compounded by the lack of transparency between the FIA, F1 stakeholders, and the GDPA with regards to where these fines are being allocated. In their open letter, the GDPA consistently expressed the opinion that decisions on how to handle the money generated from these fines should be made jointly between these parties as opposed to the FIA having sole discretion.[9]
A New Era
Despite heavy pushback from both drivers and the media, the FIA has doubled down on their perspective, implementing even harsher fines built into the sporting code during the 2025 offseason. Updating Article 12 of the FIA’s sporting code, these implementations focused on “misconduct” which the FIA has defined as “the general use of language (written or verbal) gesture and or sign that is offensive, insulting, coarse, rude, or abusive and might reasonably be expected to be perceived to be coarse or rude or to cause offense, humiliation, or to be inappropriate.”[10] Offenders are handed a base fine of €10,000, which is quadrupled when issued against F1 drivers.[11] As a result, a driver can be fined €40,000 for a first-time offense. A second offense doubles the base rate to €20,000, culminating in a total fine of €80,000, plus a one-month suspension. Following a driver’s third offense, the penalty increases to €120,000 total, accompanied by a one-month suspension and deduction of championship points.[12]
With the updates to Article 12, the underlying implications are not simply to punish the drivers, but to push back on the criticisms geared towards the FIA in response to these restrictions. As stated in the sporting code, penalties will also be handed down for “any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members, or its executive officers…and the values defended by the FIA.”[13] Additionally, Article 12 has strictly prevented any making of political or religious displays as well as any personal statements that violate the general principle of neutrality in practice throughout the FIA. These sentiments directly contradict the “We Race As One” initiative started in 2020 to use F1’s global platform and profits to combat inequalities and racial disparities globally and within the world of motorsport.[14] Not only do these violations of religious and political expression or speaking out against the FIA carry the same level of monetary fines as the cursing, the FIA has also demanded drivers who violate these sporting codes make a full public apology and retraction of their remarks.[15]
Self-Preservation
FIA President Sulayem’s tenure has already been moored with controversial decisions testing the fragile balance between the FIA and the drivers it regulates.[16] The FIA attempts to justify their actions, arguing the change in regulations will help to align F1 with the practices of other sports as seen with the NFL’s unremitting penalties for player misconduct.[17] However, it is evident these restrictions have overstepped their bounds beyond simply policing jewelry and profanity and instead stipulated to restrict the criticisms levied toward the FIA and FIA President Sulayem personally. Despite the GDPA’s consistent urges to work collaboratively with the FIA on these decisions, these amendments to Article 12 were instigated following a "snap e-vote and with no consultation with other stakeholders or the GPDA or the FIA's own drivers' commission.”[18]
Largely due to Netflix's “Drive to Survive” docuseries, F1’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, and with the decision of the FIA increasingly scrutinized, President Sulayem has routinely insisted these restrictions are for the protection of the sport.[19] However, the ability for drivers to express their freedom of speech in opposition to the FIA and its stewarding decisions - a staple of F1 and sports in general- has seen tighter and tighter constraints diminishing the driver's capacity to question the stewarding decisions without fear of severe repercussions.[20] Ultimately, at a time when F1’s global popularity has reached its apex, the FIA has chosen to dig its heels into the ground with no indication of relinquishing the reigns upon drivers' expression and conduct, censoring the raw and unfiltered passion that has made F1 so enticing to millions around the globe. With all eyes focused on what is expected to be one of F1’s most contested seasons yet, it is unlikely these measures will lead to anything but further divide between F1’s governing body and its drivers – a relationship that is already more strained than it has ever been.
Chris Costa (deputy editor-in-chief) is a 1L from Suffern, New York. At Villanova, he is on the executive board for Sports Law Society. Chris is a lifelong Giants fan and a die-hard McLaren F1 fan. Following graduation he hopes to work as either an in house counsel within the NFL or motorsport or as an agent in sports and entertainment.
References:
[1] Partridge, J. (2025, February 13). Flickr.
[2] Maher, T. (2023, April 10). FIA explained: What does it stand for and how does it govern F1?. PlanetF1.
[3] Noble, J. (2022, October 1). Hamilton summoned over potential F1 jewelry ban breach. Motorsport.com.
[4] Cleeren, F. (2024, November 2). Leclerc fined by FIA for swearing in F1 press conference. Motorsport.com.
[5] Jogia, S. (2024, November 7). Formula 1 drivers release brutal open letter to FIA president after swearing saga. F1 on SI.
[6] AP News. (2024, November 7). F1 drivers criticize FIA and ask to be treated like adults over fines for swearing. AP News.
[7] Id.
[8] Jogia, S. (2024, November 7). Formula 1 drivers release brutal open letter to FIA president after swearing saga. F1 on SI.
[9] Id.
[10] Boxall-Legge, J. (2025, January 22). F1 drivers who swear could be fined €80,000, say new FIA rules. Motorsport.com.
[11] Id.
[12] Id.
[13] Id.
[14] Id.
[15] Id.
[16] Maktoum, K. (2025, January 24). What’s really behind F1’s swearing crackdown? Forbes.
[17] Id.
[18] Id.
[19] Id.
[20] Id.
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