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Drivers Revolt! F1 Stars Slam FIA’s ‘Out of Touch’ Rules and Demand Freedom to Race Without Micromanagement

Simon Monroy by Simon Monroy
December 4, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Drivers Revolt! F1 Stars Slam FIA’s ‘Out of Touch’ Rules and Demand Freedom to Race Without Micromanagement

Formula One F1 - Sao Paulo Grand Prix - Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 3, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen is seen after winning the Sao Paulo Grand Prix REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

In an explosive stand against the governing body, Formula 1 drivers have called out the FIA and its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, over what they describe as needless micromanagement that’s killing the spirit of competition. This revolt, ignited after the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, marks one of the most unified and publicized displays of driver frustration in recent history, with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) going so far as to create an Instagram account to openly call for change.

This clash has been brewing since 2020, with drivers and fans increasingly disillusioned by what they see as the FIA’s bizarre obsession with trivial rules—from jewelry bans to underpants inspections. Recently, the FIA’s crackdown on drivers’ language, even as some struggle with English as a second language, has brought tensions to a boiling point. In response, Max Verstappen staged a protest of “malicious compliance,” boycotting press conferences, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton backed the GPDA’s call for the FIA to step back and stop “babysitting” the grid.

In an Instagram post that’s sending shockwaves through the motorsport world, the GPDA defended drivers’ use of occasional, non-insulting swearing, arguing that context matters. “With regard to swearing, there is a difference between swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing,” they wrote. “We urge the FIA president to consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers or about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise.”

“Drivers are Adults—Not Teenagers Needing Jewelry Checks”

The GPDA’s post didn’t stop at language. They lambasted the FIA’s “trivial” obsessions with dress code rules, like jewelry bans. “Our members are adults,” the GPDA said pointedly, adding, “They do not need to be given instructions by the media about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewelry or underpants.”

The FIA’s handling of drivers’ public personas has also come under scrutiny, with a recent tone-deaf comment by Ben Sulayem comparing F1 drivers’ language to that of rappers—a remark that, as Hamilton noted, felt racially charged. Hamilton, a long-time critic of Ben Sulayem, reinforced the GPDA’s position, saying he’s never trusted the 62-year-old president, who, earlier this year, came under fire for unfounded accusations against Susie Wolff.

“Show Us the Money: Drivers Demand Financial Transparency from the FIA”

But the GPDA’s concerns go beyond media restrictions and fashion rules. They’re asking for accountability about something that hits right at the heart of the sport’s integrity: financial fines. In an open letter, the GPDA called for transparency on where the FIA’s fines are going. Fines have become more frequent and costly, but the FIA has never disclosed where that money goes. For drivers, this is no minor issue. With many talented drivers struggling to fund their careers, the GPDA insists this money should go back into the sport to support up-and-coming drivers.

“For the past three 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,” the GPDA declared. “We once again request that the FIA president provides financial transparency and direct, open dialogue with us.”

Asking for funds to be used “for the benefit of our sport,” the GPDA emphasized that all stakeholders—teams, drivers, and the FIA itself—should have a say in how these fines are allocated.

“Time for Change: Drivers Call for Freedom and Respect”

This is a defining moment for F1 drivers, who have voiced their readiness to stand up to the sport’s top brass to preserve the integrity of racing. As they fight for a more transparent, respectful, and collaborative F1, this latest chapter with the FIA could reshape how the sport is governed for years to come.

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