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‘Mind your own language Mr…’- GPDA schools FIA over Swearing and driver misconduct punishment.

The FIA was criticized for treating the Formula 1 drivers harshly for swearing over team radio. Max Verstappen was punished with community service.

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Venkatakrishnan
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GPDA vs FIA

(Source: Instagram)

Formula 1 saw a major controversy when FIA punished the world champion Max Verstappen for swearing during a driver's press conference before the Singapore weekend. Max used the F word when describing his car's poor performance over the past few races.

After that controversy erupted, Max Verstappen said he achieved everything in this sport and he doesn't enjoy dealing with unnecessary things and talked about leaving the sport for some other. Many drivers came in support of Max Verstappen for the punishment. Former World champion Lewis Hamilton told Max Verstappen should ignore the punishment given by the FIA and move on from it. Red Bull Boss Helmut Marko told the media that Max Verstappen’s retirement remarks should be taken seriously.

After that, a new association was started by the drivers called ‘Grand Prix Drivers Association’. The Association was started to speak up for the drivers and support the drivers in all situations. But last weekend, Charles Leclerc was caught using the F** world during the Press conference and after mistakenly swearing Leclerc said he doesn't want to end up like Max. But the FIA didn't spare the Monegasque as he was fined heavily for swearing.

Also Read: 9 Ways Max Verstappen can clinch the F1 title in Vegas – and 9 ways Norris could keep the Dream alive till Qatar

GPDA schools FIA president Ben Sulayem

The GPDA has now released a statement regarding FIA's mistreatment of drivers in recent times. The Statement said “As is the case with every sport, competitors must abide by the referee’s decision, whether they like,e it or not, indeed whether they agree with it or not. That is how sport works. The drivers (our members) are no different, and fully understand that.

"Our members are professional drivers, racing in Formula 1, the pinnacle of international motorsport. They are gladiators and every racing weekend the put on a great show for the fans. With regards to swearing, 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 a Formula 1 car, or a driving situation.”

The GPDA added, “We urge the FIA president to also consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise. Further, our members are adults, they do not need to be given instructions via the media, about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery and underpants.

"The GPDA has, on countless occasions, expressed its view that Driver monetary fines are not appropriate for our Sport. For the past 3 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 that the FIA President provide financial transparency and direct, open dialogue with us. All stakeholders (FIA, F1, the Teams and the GPDA) should jointly determine how and where the money is spent for the benefit of our Sport.

"The GPDA wishes to collaborate in a constructive way with all the stakeholders, including the FIA President, in order to promote our great Sport for the benefit of everyone who works in it, pays for it, watches it, and indeed loves it. We are playing our part.

"Best regards,

"The Directors and Chairman of the GPDA on behalf of the Grand Prix Drivers

"#RacingUnited for our Safety, our Sport, our Fans."

Also Read: Formula 1 vs Formula E: differences Explained – Is the future of motorsport all electric?

Formula 1 Max Verstappen Charles Leclerc FIA
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