'It's getting out of hand' - Verstappen actions backed as FIA receive major swearing criticism

Former F1 driver Christian Klien has criticised the FIA for getting "out of hand" with its actions against swearing, with Max Verstappen's response having been praised. 

The FIA has introduced tighter regulations against swearing and general foul language, which will see drivers receive substantial fines and potentially race bans. 

It has been widely criticised by the F1 paddock and other FIA-governed championships, with Klien believing it is all part of a "personal action" by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

"I really don't understand why the FIA wants to be so tough on the use of swear words," Klien told RacingNews365 in an exclusive interview. 

"It also seems to me to be a personal action of the FIA president to introduce this rule so harshly. I don't quite understand why. 

"Of course drivers are role models, so I understand that you want them not to use bad language. Still, it's logical that during or just after the session you accidentally throw out a wrong word once in a while. 

"That's part of it, especially with the adrenaline a driver feels during and just after a race."

A simple method to remove swearing being aired is for the broadcasters to either not include it or bleep it out, a point which has also been raised by drivers. 

Klien also outlined this as a way of keeping swearing from being heard, with the former Red Bull driver noting that the broadcasters also have a responsibility over the issue.

"When you want those words out of the broadcasts, there is always the possibility to bleep it away," added Klien. 

"After all, the broadcast is always behind the reality. I don't agree with the rigid regulations, but certainly not with the amount of the fines. Those go absolutely nowhere, they really can't be."

Can all drivers afford the fines?

Klien's biggest issue with the tightened rules against swearing is the size of the fines on the table.

An initial swearing misconduct would result in a fine up to $44k, whilst a second offence would see the fine increase to $87k and a suspended one-month ban. 

A third misconduct would see the one-month ban activated and a $127k fine, something Klien questions if all drivers can even afford.

"You could say that someone like Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen can pay such a fine, but what about the other drivers?" questioned Klien. 

"Surely you cannot expect Isack Hadjar or any other rookie, for example, to be able to pay such high fines. Let alone talk about possibly a month's suspension for such an offence. 

"It's getting out of hand this way as far as I'm concerned and I think basically everyone feels the same way in the paddock."

It was Max Verstappen swearing during an FIA press conference in Singapore last year which saw the FIA start taking serious action against swearing. 

Ever since, Verstappen has made his position on the matter very clear and has altered how he speaks during press conferences, something Klien supports. 

"Such rules and their rigid enforcement don't help the sport either," continued Klien. "Look at how Verstappen, for example, now makes his position clear every time during press conferences. 

"It makes sense for him to make his point this way. Such rules are not necessary and it is clear that they work out badly for everyone."