The president of FIA’s Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed a controversial rule change that F1 drivers who are fined for oath are believed to be under consideration.
The Winter FIA International Sports Code change added an appendix to penalties that stewards can distribute for infringement.
Under Appendix B, drivers of the FIA competition face a ban on racing if they repeatedly swear or criticize the governing body of the sport.
The guidelines state that three such crimes put drivers at risk of a “one month suspension and a championship point deduction.”
F1 World Champion four-time World Champion Max Verstappen has come as part of his bid to crack down on FIA drivers after being ordered to complete what is the equivalent of community service to take the swearing at a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix last year.
Hyundai World Rally Championship Driver Adrien Formaux was the first driver to be punished for violating new rules when he used the expletive in an interview with the TV stage end in Rally Sweden in February.
Fourmaux was in charge of a further 20,000 euros suspended and a fine of 10,000 euros.
Williams driver Carlos Anayn risked becoming the first F1 driver to fall into revised rules when he vowed at a press conference in Bahrain Grampuri when discussing the punishment he was given in his previous race in Japan.
The Spaniard ultimately escaped a potential €40,000 fine for his bad language use, and a FIA spokesman explained that Sainz had apologized for his actions.
FIA considering changing
Written in a post on social media platform Instagram, Ben Sulayem has issued a statement confirming that improvements to Appendix B have been considered.
“Following constructive feedback from drivers across seven FIA World Championships, I’m considering improving TOE Appendix B. As an original driver, I understand the demands they face more than most,” wrote Ben Sulayem in an Instagram post.
“Appendix B is an important part of the international sports code and is the heart of helping to make sports accessible to all sports families.
“Humans can make rules, and humans can improve rules. This principle of continuous improvement is something I have always believed in and is at the heart of everything we do at the FIA.”
The FIA has already made clear to F1 drivers. It makes clear that language is not punished in the heat of the moment. The WRC driver has reached a similar agreement with the FIA.