8 d. ago George Russell scornful of ‘crazy’ FIA’s retreat on swearing drivers

F1 governing body to relax its hardline stance‘It was so ridiculous in the first place’George Russell has dismissed the FIA’s decision to back down from its hard line on driver swearing as ridiculous and suggested it was a ploy by the governing body’s president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to garner support before he stands for re-election this December, while Lewis Hamilton described the situation at the FIA as “a mess”.On Wednesday, the FIA announced it was to relax the strict stance against drivers using bad language which it has pursued relentlessly, apparently at Ben Sulayem’s request, for the past eight months. The president stated before the Singapore GP last year he did not want drivers to swear and the FIA imposed a new sliding scale of fines which could have also led to a ban for infringements at the start of this season. However, the organisation backtracked before this weekend’s Imola Grand Prix. The maximum fine has now been drastically reduced and the prospect of a ban remov...

Politics

9 d. ago FIA announces major F1 rule change on eve of Imola GP after complaints from drivers

Up to now, F1 drivers had been at risk of massive fines, race bans and even the docking of World Championship points for multiple offences of swearing under controversial FIA guidelines

Politics

9 d. ago Talk is cheaper, Max: ‘silly’ fines for Formula One drivers’ swearing are cut by 50%

FIA softens hardline on clean-up after Verstappen’s ireStewards granted more discretion on deciding penaltiesEfforts to clean up Formula One’s act have taken a more tolerant turn with the FIA cutting by half the maximum penalties for drivers’ swearing, a move that is certain to please the defending world champion, Max Verstappen.Formula One drivers have been at loggerheads with the FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, over a crackdown on bad language during grand prix weekends and he said last month that he was considering “improvements” to rules. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Talk is cheaper, Max: ‘silly’ fines for F1 drivers’ swearing are cut by 50%

FIA softens hard line on clean-up after Verstappen’s ireStewards granted more discretion on deciding penaltiesEfforts to clean up Formula One’s act have taken a more tolerant turn with the FIA cutting by half the maximum penalties for drivers’ swearing, a move that is certain to please the defending world champion, Max Verstappen.Formula One drivers have been at loggerheads with the FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, over a crackdown on bad language during grand prix weekends and he said last month that he was considering “improvements” to rules. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago FIA back down in Formula One swearing row by cutting drivers’ fines in half

FIA softens hard line on clean-up after Verstappen’s ireStewards granted more discretion on deciding penaltiesFormula One’s governing body the FIA has retreated from its hard stance against drivers using bad language that has caused controversy and division since it was pursued by the president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.The move will be considered a climbdown by the FIA among drivers and others in the F1 paddock, not least the defending world champion Max Verstappen, who has been among many who were vociferous in their dismissal of the policy and the FIA’s previous refusal to listen to the drivers’ standpoint. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago FIA backs down in F1 swearing row by cutting drivers’ fines in half

FIA softens hard line on clean-up after Verstappen’s ireStewards granted more discretion on deciding penaltiesFormula One’s governing body the FIA has retreated from its hard stance against drivers using bad language that has caused controversy and division since it was pursued by the president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.The move will be considered a climbdown by the FIA among drivers and others in the F1 paddock, not least the defending world champion Max Verstappen, who has been among many who were vociferous in their dismissal of the policy and the FIA’s previous refusal to listen to the drivers’ standpoint. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Inside the £935,000 home of Eddie Hall where the World's Strongest Man

Video footage circulated on social media showed Hall, 37, swearing at the driver of a blue BMW, as he said 'I'll twist your f***ing head off' as the car pulled away following the altercation.

Economics

3 w. ago Lewis Hamilton leads call for F1 drivers to be given more say in talks with FIA

‘We are very unified. We want to be able to work with FIA’Drivers unhappy after Verstappen punished for swearingLewis Hamilton has led a call demanding changes that would give Formula One drivers a formal place in discussions with the sport’s governing body, the FIA, and warned that they could act collectively to facilitate such a change, potentially acting as other sports have with a strong union representation.Hamilton made the remarks after the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had intimated in a post on social media this week that he was considering adjusting the rules around the unpopular and controversial punishments for drivers for offences including political statements and swearing. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Fist fights, ghostly pranks and schism: a brief history of conclaves past

Selecting a new pope has always been an arduous process, but some conclaves seemed to suffer more than othersModern-day conclaves are steeped in mystery: cardinal electors swear an oath of secrecy – and so do the cooks, drivers, medics and others who support their deliberations. Before the conclave begins next week, the Sistine Chapel will be swept for electronic bugs, jamming devices will be installed, and special coatings will be placed on windows to stop laser scanners picking up anything audible.It wasn’t always this way: in the past, letters, diaries and other writings by cardinals and their attendants gave revealing accounts of what happened in the meetings convened in order to choose a pope. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago FIA president hints at climbdown amid F1 driver standoff over swearing fines

Mohammed ben Sulayem suggests rule ‘improvements’F1 drivers raised concerns over fines and free speechThe standoff between drivers and the president of Formula One’s governing body over the contentious issue of swearing may have taken a step towards resolution.Ahead of this week’s Miami Grand Prix, FIA leader Mohammed ben Sulayem posted on Instagram that after “constructive feedback” from drivers across the world of motorsport he is considering making “improvements” to the document which lays out the punishments for a range of offences ranging from physical violence to political statements and swearing. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Is the punishment for cursing in F1 too harsh? Racing boss hints at changes after driver backlash

The president of Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA has signaled he’ll make “improvements” to punishments for swearing and criticism which have sparked a backlash from F1 drivers

Politics