Friday, July 25, 2025
HomeMotorsportsCompromise offer from bin Sulayem! Curse conflict resolved?

Compromise offer from bin Sulayem! Curse conflict resolved?

FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem shows willingness to compromise on controversial “curse ban” – will agreement with drivers now be reached?

Following ongoing criticism of the strict interpretation of Appendix B of the International Sporting Code (ISC), FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem is open to adjustments. In a statement, he announced that he would review improvements to the controversial language rules, which provide for sanctions for “inappropriate language.”

At the start of the 2025 season, the FIA announced a crackdown: anyone using profanity or inappropriate language at events would face fines or even bans.

The case of Adrien Fourmaux caused a particular stir. The WRC driver made an ill-advised comment in a TV interview after a special stage of the Rally Sweden in February and was fined €10,000, in addition to a suspended fine of €20,000.

Following numerous responses from drivers from various FIA world championships and an interview boycott by drivers at the Safari Rally, the leadership of the International Automobile Federation has now responded.

In a social media post, bin Sulayem explains: “Following constructive feedback from drivers in our seven world championships, I am reviewing improvements to Appendix B. As a former rally driver, I understand the pressures they are under better than many others.”

The language rules for Formula 1 had already been relaxed: spontaneous emotional outbursts, for example on the radio or in the parc fermé, will no longer be penalized.

A similar agreement has also been reached in the World Rally Championship (WRC). Since the Canary Islands Rally, a distinction has been made between controlled and uncontrolled zones – spontaneous language is no longer sanctioned in interviews immediately after the stages or on the radio.

This step was taken after a silent protest by WRC drivers, who either did not comment at all during the Safari Rally or only responded in their native language.

Ben Sulayem emphasizes: “Appendix B is a central part of the International Sporting Code and helps keep our sport accessible to all members of the motorsport family. People make the rules, and people can improve the rules. This principle of continuous improvement has always been part of my belief and is at the core of our work at the FIA.”

This was not the first time during bin Sulayem’s tenure that he came into conflict with drivers over his particularly strict interpretation of the rules. In 2022, he clashed with Formula 1 drivers for the first time over piercings. A compromise was reached then as well.

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