Vowles: F1 not a "hero-evil" environment, but no place for booing

Williams boss James Vowles provides his take on F1’s booing and swearing controversies

Williams team principal James Vowles believes Formula 1's recent booing and swearing controversies will not overshadow its growth, but believes there is no place for booing in the championship.

Boos were heard at F1's 75th anniversary launch event at London's O2 Arena earlier this month, aimed at the reigning champion Max Verstappen, the FIA, and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

This led the FIA, which has come under fire for its militant approach to stamping out foul language with heavy penalties able to be levied upon drivers, to blame 'tribalism' from the primarily British audience in attendance.

Vowles felt that the booing experienced at the O2 event was unnecessary and shouldn't have a place in F1, but was keen to laud F1 and the other teams for "leaning into" the launch presentations in front of a capacity crowd.

"I'm not worried it will overshadow because I think we have such a strong product," Vowles began. "Let's start with the O2. I was unsure how that event would go, but I think it was absolutely fantastic and did the sport justice.

"I don't think there's a place for booing. We were there to effectively represent our sport that we're passionate about. And we need to remember that it's trying to give back to the world. It's not a hero-evil type environment.

"There's always going to be areas where we're fighting one another, be it in politics, the FIA or Formula 1. That's a fairly normal element."

Driver Line-up

Photo by: Liberty Media

Vowles expanded on the current swearing controversy and offered his own take, explaining that he felt it should be accepted that drivers will ultimately vent in high-stakes situations - stating that: "What I've already said all the way through is if a driver is in the car putting their life on the line, all of you in this room - I would as well - you would use words you're not proud of in the heat of the moment."

He countered this by adding that, in press conference situations, that it was unnecessary and that the FIA should "take a lens on what's happening at different points."

Wolff agreed with the Williams boss, admitting surprise at the amount of booing at the O2. He appeared to refute the FIA's stance on tribalism in stating that "there wasn't any booing really on Max" and that "it's his home turf and still Christian got these boos" - but agreed that it should not be part of F1.

The Austrian wanted F1's drivers to take an approach more like rugby when it comes to choice of language, which he explained was "sophisticated and nobody would ever say a word to an official". Nonetheless, he echoed the consensus about swearing while on track.

"I don't think we should be swearing about officials. That's for sure, and that's why also the FIA needs to protect that. It's clear. For me, it is about respect, about respect to your competitors, respect to the officials, not inciting anybody, whether it's your own people or whether it's an adverse competitor out there on track.

"It makes a big difference whether you use the F-word in the context of your own driving or out of emotion, like James said, because I'm using that if I'm annoyed.

"But when it is directed in the car to another driver, to an official or to your team, I think this is what we need to prohibit. And we need to make a difference, in my opinion, between these two.

"We don't want to mute the drivers and their emotions. If we're in a press conference, if we are being interviewed, that's a completely different set. But in the car, as long as it's not an incite and as long as it's not disrespectful to somebody else, I would just let it go."

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Opinion: Vowles and Wolff offer level-headed opinions in a sea of outrage

As much as team principals enjoy stirring the pot on occasion, they're ultimately in their roles of overseeing thousands of people for one simple reason: the hugest of galleons need sensible captains at the wheel.

Theirs is the common sense view - from this writer's perspective, at least. Some might argue booing is part of the sport, one would argue that it really doesn't need to be. F1 is not an "us versus them" sport, but a celebration of 20 of the best drivers in the world doing things that us mere mortals could only dream of. The creeping tribalism in F1 feels a bit like wandering into a Tesco in full Sainsbury's attire and booing the checkout assistant simply because they asked if you were in possession of a Clubcard. For the non-UK readers, simply replace that example as appropriate with two supermarket chains - Albert Heijn and Jumbo, for example, if you're from the Netherlands.

The whole swearing furore also feels silly. Swearing in official media sessions or at officials should be met with punitive measures, but it feels like a line has been sensibly drawn when Formula E's Dan Ticktum escaped punishment for swearing on the radio during the Jeddah E-Prix weekend. Nor should he be punished for that.

The FIA hasn't necessarily helped with a lack of clarity over the ruling. Just draw the line clearly, ask the drivers to be sensible, and leave it there. George Russell might self-censor with the odd "crikey" during moments of close quarters battling, but not everyone is blessed with the same mental thesaurus of old-timey phrases...