Lewis Hamilton and George Russell blast FIA president’s swearing ban U-turn
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have questioned the FIA and its saga over swearing punishments
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton has piled into the FIA president’s decision to row back on his swearing ban - saying the whole “ridiculous” situation is “a mess”.
Meanwhile, George Russell said Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s plans to climb down on its previous stance on punishing drivers seemed "all a bit suspect".
It comes after Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, revised penalties for drivers for swearing amid a backlash.
Under the original plans, F1 drivers could be fined €40,000 (£33,700) for a first offence, and double that - plus a ban for a second offence. However, that has now been reduced to €5,000 (£4,200) while the threat of a ban has been removed.
Hamilton was asked about the decision to backtrack ahead of the Imola Grand Prix and said: “It is ridiculous. I don't really know. Nothing I say is going to make any difference to it. It seems a bit of a mess there at the moment.
“There are lots of changes that are needed, for sure. But it doesn't really affect me. I don't see what's happened since then.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Meanwhile, Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, said: "We're talking about a situation where things have been reverted because it was a little bit ludicrous in the first place.
"Of course we're happy to see that it [has been changed], but it should never have been there in the first place, if that makes sense.
"So it feels a bit wrong to be thanking [the FIA] for the changes when we shouldn't have been in that place to begin with.
"We've still had no correspondence with anyone from the senior level at the FIA. So yeah, it's all a bit suspect."
Russell was asked why he thought the drivers had not been spoken to directly by Ben Sulayem.
He added: "That's a good question. It seems more challenging than it should be really, but we've all put our views forward.
"I wouldn't say it's gotten to a point of no return, but you at least want to see willingness from the other party.
"I think we feel we've put our views forward, and we want to have conversations and dialogue, and there's only so much you can ask."
Photos from Emilia Romagna GP - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday
Share Or Save This Story
How Jonathan Wheatley wants Sauber to use F1 podium momentum in Audi transformation
How Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit mirrored his F1 arrival and why he will be missed
Keanu Reeves to star in new Cadillac F1 team documentary
Lewis Hamilton lifts lid on Kim Kardashian's support after F1 Monaco GP
Explained: Why so many F1 drivers were penalised for pitlane speeding in Monaco
Why some F1 team bosses think drivers shouldn't have a say in the rules
Ferrari supplier Brembo ‘astonished’ as Charles Leclerc blames Monaco crash on brakes
Who slept worst last night: Charles Leclerc
Top 10 Le Mans Ferraris ranked: Testa Rossa, P4, 499P and more
Denny Hamlin wanted to honor Kyle Busch's full history with Michigan flag
Road to Victory: Inside the fight to win at the highest level of endurance racing
Christian Rasmussen pushing to resurrect “tough year” with third-place finish in St. Louis
Josef Newgarden continues to ascend in IndyCar’s record books after “crazy” race at WWTR
What could drive McLaren to build its own F1 engine
No more naysayers, surely? How Monaco proved Kimi Antonelli's searing form wasn't just luck
Why Toto Wolff may need to try some distraction tactics
From “a new back” to the front row: What’s behind Max Verstappen’s surprise Monaco pace?
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments