Toto Wolff: FIA should consider ‘context’ of F1 driver swearing

Mercedes Formula 1 Team Principal Toto Wolff has urged the FIA to differentiate between swearing about driving from swearing “out of emotion”.

The governing body’s president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, announced his intentions to clampdown on swearing last month.

The new racing guidelines brought in by the 63-year-old include potential fines and points deductions for any foul language used.

In response to the new rules, there was widespread discontent from the drivers, including Max Verstappen, who hoped “common sense” would prevail with the swearing clampdown.

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Speaking after the morning session of the second day of pre-season testing, Wolff gave his thoughts on the situation, stating the importance of not wanting to “mute the drivers and their emotions”.

“For me, it’s about respect,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“About respect to your competitors, respect to the officials, not inciting anybody, whether it’s your own people or whether it’s a competitor out there on track.

“And it makes a big difference whether you use the ‘F’ word in the context of your own driving or out of emotion, like James [Vowles] said.

“Because I’m using that if I’m annoyed, but when it is directed in the car to a driver, to an official, or to the 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 thing.

“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, but that’s my custom.”

Wolff: ‘We are a gentleman’s sport’

Verstappen was the first target of the FIA’s censorship of explicit language, receiving community service for his actions at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Dutchman used foul language in reference to the performance of his car but the FIA proceeded with its reprimand anyway, which the Silver Arrows chief feels is wrong.

However, he did express how he thinks F1 has the responsibility to hold itself to higher standard than most of the other “mainstream” sports.

“None of us, and I was vocal about it, likes to have these words expressed because we are role models,” Wolff stated.

“And I think we are, you may laugh about it, but I think we are a gentleman’s sport.

“We are high tech, we represent that.

“It’s different to more mainstream sports.

“I see it as a little bit… to be sophisticated, and nobody would ever say a word to an official, so 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.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen hopes ‘common sense’ prevails with F1 swearing clampdown