FIA mulls F1 swearing ban extension: Why it might affect drivers and the sport

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) is considering taking its recent swear ban to the radio communications used by Formula One (F1) teams. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem mooted the possibility of the governing body ‘shutting down the radios of live communication’ to apply the rule. At first glance, this may appear to be an issue of elementary professionalism, but from what has been researched, banning swearing would have real consequences on drivers and the sport.
Evidence indicates that swearing is closely related to emotional control, with swear words engaging brain areas that are involved in emotion processing, threat, and survival. Studies also show that cursing activates the fight-or-flight response of the body, raising heart rate, breathing rate, and adrenaline levels.

Swearing also plays a significant role in driver-team communication. Research has established that swear words are effective ‘attention getters’ breaking through the noise and conveying urgency. When a driver swears, it can be an instant signal for the team to put their response on high priority, so that important matters are dealt with immediately.
In addition, language is closely associated with identity, and most drivers consider swearing as part of their true racing identity. The FIA's ban would then be an effort to redefine the way drivers talk.

One of the most prominent shifts in contemporary Formula One has been the live broadcasting of team radio messages, giving viewers a glimpse of the competitiveness of racing. Initially meant for strategic talks, these messages have found themselves playing an important role in the sport's entertainment appeal, quite often being replayed and commented upon by millions of people across the globe. A blanket ban on swearing has the potential to make team radio communication sound scripted and unnatural, taking away from the raw emotions that help drive the sport for the audience.

Some Formula One drivers have already come out criticizing the FIA's proposed limitations. Australian Oscar Piastri dismissed the potential $200,000 fines for swearing, calling the ban unrealistic. In a similar vein, Mercedes driver George Russell accepted that while swearing in press conferences might not be essential, it is a natural reaction for many sportspersons, particularly those whose first language is not English.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen also had something to say on the issue, pointing out that swearing tends to happen in the spur of the moment. “Of course, I understand that you cannot always swear everywhere you go. I think we all understand that as racing drivers, but sometimes, in the heat of the moment or when you get interviewed, when you're in your car or whatever, you've just had an adrenaline rush or whatever; sometimes things slip out a little bit,” Verstappen explained at F1's official launch of the 2025 season.
He also emphasized that cursing is a normal aspect of competitive sports and must not be taken seriously. “I think we all grew up; I mean, probably most people grew up, even at school or playing football or sports in general. It happens that you use a swear word, and I think we shouldn't take it so seriously,” he added.
Also read: 'If it happens, it happens': Max Verstappen pokes fun at FIA’s swearing ban, says suspension only thing s
The controversy surrounding the swearing ban underlines the changing shape of F1's media environment, in which the quest for entertainment occasionally comes into tension with regulatory control. As the FIA weighs its options, the reaction from both drivers and fans indicates that a complete ban on swearing is perhaps not the solution for the sport.