FIA want team radio clampdown: 'F1 drivers are not rappers'

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed F1's governing body is looking at reducing the frequency of radio messages containing swear words being broadcast on the live feed.

Team radio communications are often played on the live broadcast during sessions, with the drivers in constant communication with their race engineers.

During particularly tense moments during a race weekend, outbursts from drivers are often shown on the live feed - but any messages containing profanities are bleeped out.

Despite the swear words being censored, Ben Sulayem still believes the matter is an issue, stating racing drivers are not “rappers”.

“I mean, we have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music,” Ben Sulayem told Autosport.

“We're not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That's them and we are [us].”

As an ex-rally driver, Ben Sulayem added he understands the frustrations that drivers go through but insisted drivers should be presented as better role models for children.

“I know, I was a driver,” he pointed out. "In the heat of the moment, when you think you are upset because another driver came to you and pushed you.

"When I used to drive in the dust [and something like that happened], I would get upset. But also, we have to be careful with our conduct. We need to be responsible people.

“And now with the technology, everything is going live and everything is going to be recorded. At the end of the day, we have to study that to see: do we minimise what is being said publicly?

“Because imagine you are sitting with your children and watching the race and then someone is saying all of this dirty language. I mean, what would your children or grandchildren say? What would you teach them if that is your sport?”