Hamilton, Russell slam FIA over reversed swearing ban: “A mess”, “ludicrous”

Hamilton and Russell blast FIA over swearing ban U-turn: “Ridiculous” and “ludicrous”

Formula 1 stars call out FIA for poor communication and chaotic handling of policy reversal

IMOLA — Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have publicly condemned the FIA’s reversal of its controversial swearing penalty policy, with Hamilton labeling the situation “a mess” and Russell calling the original rule “ludicrous.”

The backlash follows a week of confusion and criticism after FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem quietly rolled back a rule that initially threatened drivers with fines of up to €80,000 and potential bans for swearing in post-race or public interviews. Under the updated policy, the maximum fine has been reduced to €5,000, and the ban threat has been dropped entirely.

Hamilton: “It’s ridiculous… it’s a mess”

Speaking ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, seven-time world champion Hamilton expressed disbelief over the policy debacle.

“It is ridiculous. I don't really know,” Hamilton told reporters. “Nothing I say is going to make any difference to it. It seems a bit of a mess there at the moment.”

He noted that the swearing crackdown — and the swift U-turn — reflected deeper issues within the sport's governing body, though he admitted it doesn’t directly affect him.

“There are lots of changes that are needed, for sure,” he added.

Russell: “Feels wrong to thank the FIA”

George Russell, who serves as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), echoed Hamilton’s frustration. He questioned not only the logic behind the initial punishment framework, but also the lack of transparency and communication from FIA leadership.

“We're talking about a situation where things have been reverted because it was a little bit ludicrous in the first place,” Russell said. “Of course we're happy to see that it's changed, but it should never have been there in the first place.”

“So it feels a bit wrong to be thanking [the FIA] for the changes when we shouldn't have been in that place to begin with.”

Russell also revealed that despite the policy shift, there had been no direct communication from Ben Sulayem or senior FIA officials with the drivers.

“No dialogue with FIA leadership”

When asked why the FIA president hadn’t reached out to drivers directly, Russell responded:

“That's a good question. It seems more challenging than it should be really. But we've all put our views forward. I wouldn't say it's gotten to a point of no return, but you at least want to see willingness from the other party.”

The 26-year-old Mercedes driver added that the GPDA had been pushing for open discussions and that the lack of engagement from the top levels of the FIA remains a significant concern for drivers.

“We've put our views forward, and we want to have conversations and dialogue. And there's only so much you can ask,” Russell said.

A PR problem for the FIA

The now-revised swearing penalties were initially introduced to uphold the FIA’s code of conduct and to align with its "values of respect and professionalism." But critics within the paddock, including drivers and teams, saw the move as out of touch with the real-world intensity of motorsport and a distraction from more pressing concerns, such as track safety, regulation clarity, and driver engagement.

The public fallout now adds to broader unease about FIA governance under Ben Sulayem, who has been criticized in recent months for opaque decision-making, rule inconsistencies, and limited collaboration with key stakeholders, including drivers.

What's next?

With Formula 1 drivers now voicing their grievances openly and the FIA leadership continuing to face scrutiny, calls for better transparency and structured communication channels are likely to intensify.

The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association is expected to push for a formal dialogue with the FIA, especially as new regulatory changes loom in the 2026 season.

For now, the controversy over swearing fines may be resolved — but trust between the sport’s stars and its governing body appears far from mended.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for more developments from the paddock as F1 returns to Imola for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.