Last year, under Ben Sulayem’s leadership, the FIA introduced stricter rules to punish drivers for using foul language when speaking to press.

These changes were quickly put into action, with Max Verstappen becoming the first driver penalized under the new regulations. He was given a one-day community service order for swearing during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Not long after, Charles Leclerc received a €10,000 fine—half of it suspended—for a similar incident at the Mexico City Grand Prix. This sparked debate over whether punishing drivers for swearing was necessary or excessive.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, the FIA has expanded its rulebook further, making it possible for repeat offenders to face even harsher punishments.

The updated rules don’t just target bad language. The FIA has given stewards the power to punish drivers for any kind of misconduct, including making statements that could be seen as offensive, spreading hate, or violating the FIA’s rule of neutrality in political and personal matters. These penalties can include fines, suspensions, and even championship points deductions, though stewards are not required to enforce them in every case.

Another big question is how the FIA will handle driver radio messages during races. Drivers often swear in the heat of the moment, especially when communicating with their teams. But president Ben Sulayem doesn’t seem interested in giving them much leeway.

Speaking at an FIA summit at the Circuito del Jarama, he was asked how the FIA plans to deal with bad language on the radio. In a video shared by Spanish outlet SoyMotor, he suggested that multiple options are being considered.

“Do we go on and then shut down the radios of live communications? Maybe. Do we delay it? Maybe,” he said.

“There’s a lot of things we will work [on] with our promoters. We are still the owners of the championship.”

It’s unclear whether he meant completely banning radio messages or just preventing them from being broadcast, but the latter seems more likely.

Right now, radio messages are aired with a short delay to censor any bad language, but fans who subscribe to premium services can hear them live. If the FIA decides to step in, it could change how these messages are shared with the audience, affecting one of the most engaging parts of Formula 1 for fans.