FIA's Radio Censorship Irks Verstappen, Tsunoda

Verstappen criticizes the FIA’s stance on radio language, highlighting a growing sensitivity in sports and beyond.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has requested that drivers swear less on the radio during races to reduce the need for censoring conversations. Ben Sulayem also cited a controversial example, stating that drivers are “not rappers.”

The three-time world champion pointed out that it would be feasible to simply not broadcast these moments, and factually, he is correct since these are always replays. Except through onboard cameras, which provide unrestricted access to uncensored conversations, the broadcast of profanities is a choice by the FOM.

“It’s probably a bit the world we live in, in sports, but also in general, it seems people are a bit more sensitive about certain things. That’s just the way it is,” Verstappen stated, explaining that using these words is sometimes inevitable.

“I guess the world is changing a bit, but I think it starts with not broadcasting it, or not giving people the option to hear it. Of course, many apps allow listening to radios and others, they probably need to be restricted, or have some delay to be able to censor certain things.”

“This will help much more than putting bans on drivers. For example, I couldn’t even say the F-word. It’s not even that bad. When the car wasn’t working, I said ‘the car is F-word.'”

Addressing interviewer Tom Clarkson, Verstappen then put the issue of swearing on the radio into perspective: “Excuse me for the language, but come on, what are we, five or six years old?”

“Even if a five or six-year-old is watching, he will end up swearing anyway, whether the parents want it or not, when he grows up, he’ll hang out with his friends and they’ll swear, so it doesn’t change anything.”

“It’s not broadcast” in other sports

The Dutchman distinguishes between a few swear words and insults and also notes that other sports do not have this problem because we do not hear what athletes say at all times.

“I think you’re going to swear anyway. If it’s not in this room, maybe elsewhere. Everyone swears. Some a bit more than others—it also depends a bit on the language you speak.”

“Of course, abuse is another thing. I think a lot of things are broadcast these days, whereas in other sports, you don’t run around with a microphone attached to you. In other sports, many people say a lot of bad things when they’re full of adrenaline, but it’s not broadcast.”

“We are here, probably also for entertainment purposes, things are broadcast, and that’s why people can pick it up, talk about it on social media, and you get all sorts of trouble.”

“So I think it’s enough just not to broadcast the information. If you don’t broadcast it, no one will know, only the team. With that, you can handle these kinds of things internally.”

Yuki Tsunoda agrees with Verstappen that other sports do not have this problem: “I’m sure if you put a microphone on everyone in other sports, in football, if you put a microphone on all the players, in basketball or elsewhere, they would all swear. It’s because there is the radio, that’s why.”

“It’s part of the personality, but it’s clear that some words cross the line, and that happened to me this year. It’s part of the way to express feelings. So I don’t see why there is a problem. It’s just that I’m sure even the people at the FIA do it sometimes, right?”

For Norris, hearing the radios is “cool”

For Lando Norris, broadcasting the radios is a good thing as it allows showing “the toughness of the drivers, their thoughts, and their feelings. And when I listen, I find it cool and exciting to hear such things.”

“It’s not just soft and nice language that people use. I’m sure there are plenty of other sports and things you can watch if that’s what you want to hear.”

Norris also highlighted that F1 drivers are “guys in the heat of the action, under stress, under pressure, fighting, having big accidents. It’s much easier for them to say it than for us to do it.

“We are here putting our hearts on the line trying to race with others and giving everything we’ve got. Our heart rate is very high. We put our passion and love into it.”

“Of course, there will be swearing on the other side, but that’s just because we are trying, we want to give our best, and we feel roughed up when things don’t go well. And if it’s because of excitement and other things, it’s because we are happy with what’s happening.”