Under fire: The FIA's crackdown on expression

With the new regulations implemented to Formula 1 by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), drivers and fans alike are beginning to question if the FIA is overstepping its bounds as a governing motorsport body.

These regulations on driver misconduct – strict fines and race bans for offenses like swearing, inappropriate gestures and saying political, religious, or personal statements – have no room and can be stifling in such a high-stress, intense sport where argueably the most talented and competitive drivers in the world put their life on the line every time they hop into their cars to win races. 

And many of these drivers, most notably 4-time World Champion Max Verstappen and RB driver Yuki Tsunoda, use colorful language during races as an outlet for frustration and competitive nature. It has never been a major problem in years past. Because it's always been their primary job to perform well and secure points for their team, not worry about swearing or saying personal statements at the expense of their finances. Granted, these drivers are extraordinarily wealthy, but the whole concept of the regulations seems unnecessary, especially considering that these drivers are adults and should be treated as such.

On top of that, these additions are being seen by many of the drivers as an affront to their freedom of expression and speech. And they don't seem to fit in with what the FIA claims to be for the sports world that it has authority over.

In the 2025 FIA statutes, they state that their main purpose is to promote safe, sustainable, affordable and innovative motorsport. They want all competition to be fair across the board, act as a third party if disputes arise and certify teams, cars and drivers. But regulating speech and gestures deemed inappropriate doesn't seem to fall under any of these categories at all.

This recent crackdown is completely missplaced and would make much more sense being directed towards matters regarding on-track safety and fair competition between the drivers. Instead of being concerned with drivers running their mouths, the FIA should be more concerned with how they're running Formula 1.