News of the FIA potentially stopping the broadcasting of F1 radio messages has created plenty of buzz. More broadly, reception to the Federation’s stricter measures on driver conduct is far from positive.
With the 2025 season only a few weeks away, it remains to be seen how drivers react to the stricter rules over their conduct.
The opening rounds of the year should provide a clearer indication into the response to the FIA’s new direction.
However, President Ben Sulayem is not worried about criticisms of the changes taking place.
F1 drivers receive harsher guidelines
To be clear, the idea of a ‘shut down’ on team radio messages is still that – an idea.
As it stands, radios will be broadcast just as they were in the past. Any offensive language will be censored, and FOM (Formula One Management) will have complete discretion over what is shown.
Still, this topic is just one of the controversies the FIA.
As reported on LWOS a few weeks ago, drivers face fines and even the deduction of World Championship points for behaviour that constitutes ‘moral injury’ to the FIA.
In the context of this controversial amendment to the sporting code, eyebrows have already been raised about the FIA’s new direction.
Both within and outside the paddock, there is scepticism about these changes – in addition to those being considered.
Sulayem makes his stance clear
Amidst all of this talk, Ben Sulayem is not concerned by these emerging criticisms.
The 63-year-old believes that drivers should be held to a certain standard – and is unapologetic about enforcing this:
“When I was rallying, there was something called discipline,” he explained at a recent event.
“And discipline is very important for us. We live with discipline. Drivers live with discipline.
“What you say, it’s your responsibility. The rules are there, our drivers are ambassadors.”
Until a few months ago, the issue of driver conduct – whether in press conferences or races – was virtually non-existent.
By in large, F1 drivers rarely find themselves in any controversy – aside from on-track incidents or collisions.
Partly because of this, the FIA’s recent clampdown is not being received very well.
Even if changes to team radio broadcasts are not confirmed, the mere prospect of changing this part of an F1 weekend is not being well received.
After all, messages that are shown on the F1 live feed are already delayed and censored when necessary.
F1 News stories on this issue set to continue
Despite this, Ben Sulayem sees policing driver behaviour as an important issue:
“They set the good message for our beloved sport and the federation. I don’t know what they are making a big thing out of it.
“It’s a discipline, it has been discussed, approved by the World Council, we have a democratic vote.
“In a few months, this will be behind, it will be old news, people will think of something else.”
Considering pre-season testing has not even begun, the true extent of driver dissent – if any – to the FIA’s harsher sanctions is unclear.
Only when the grid is asked questions by the media in Bahrain will more clarity on their perspective emerge.
Until then, we can only speculate how F1 will evolve under the Federation’s latest direction.
