FIA accused of 'gagging' F1 drivers and turning them into 'marketing muppets'

The FIA is turning drivers into “marketing muppets” by threatening race bans and championship point deductions for repeated swearing instances.

That is the view of racing driver Tom Coronel, who took issue with the FIA's recent update to its International Sporting Code in conversation with RacingNews365.

F1's governing body reformed its rules to outline that the first offence would result in a fine - however repeated infringements would escalate the punishments and could ultimately land a driver with a one-month ban and a deduction of championship points.

Veteran racing driver Coronel has hit out at the rule, stating the FIA is taking the fun out of drivers' personalities.

"I find it ridiculous that this has to happen after so many years in motorsport and that this has to come in,” Coronel told RacingNews365. “I don't agree with it at all. 

“Sport is emotion and I don't think you should take that emotion out of the sport because it makes the sport less [enjoyable].

"You notice very clearly that they [the FIA] want to control everything. The problem with the FIA: the more rules there are, the more problems there are. 

“It's just not fun anymore. They want to cover everything to have it one hundred per cent in order from their side.

"They obviously want to silence the drivers as much as possible. That's what's behind it. I feel the whole emotion is being taken out. You are no longer allowed to have an opinion at all, you just become a marketing puppet. You are being gagged.”

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was criticised by F1 drivers last year, with the Grand Prix Drivers' Association issuing a public letter addressing their concerns.

The FIA first clamped down on swearing in Singapore last season when Max Verstappen made a remark in a press conference, resulting in an obligation to carry out community service.

With the new sanctions now laid out on paper, Coronel is doubtful the drivers will pay much attention to the guidelines.

"The emotion remains anyway,” he said. “The drivers make so much money, then they only pay $10,000 [for the first offence]. They don't care about that. 

“You can't stop the emotion. I understand that you have to set limits, but you can't stop the emotion. 

“Someone who is angry is angry, and someone who has emotions has them. You can't do that. 

"I think in terms of fun and emotion, there's going to be a lot of frustration for a lot of drivers. It's not natural anymore, it's going to be a muppet show!" 

When asked if a word such as “fuck” should be allowed to be used, Coronel responded: “Of course! You don't hurt anyone with it, it's just the emotion that makes you say it. 

“So how are you going to say it now? You are no longer allowed to say, 'he pushed me off, that motherfucker'. Then it becomes, 'well, it's unbelievable, he's really naughty'. 

“It is absolutely, completely ridiculous that emotion is being pulled out of the sport. That's just what makes the sport. I don't understand it at all.”