Sainz hits back at FIA clampdown as first driver punished for swearing

Carlos Sainz has criticised the FIA's desire to eliminate swearing from F1 drivers.

Earlier this year, the FIA published new guidelines regarding misconduct which could see drivers issued punishments as severe as race bans and championship points deductions.

The issue received attention at last year's Singapore Grand Prix when Max Verstappen was handed a community service punishment for swearing during an FIA press conference.

WRC driver Adrien Fourmaux became the first driver to be punished under the new rules last weekend after swearing on a live broadcast.

Speaking to media including RacingNews365, Sainz asserted the FIA's stance when it comes to swear words in media sessions and interviews. 

“I’m going to try and be as honest as possible - in controlled environments like press conferences, drivers should be mature enough to know when to control swearing,” he said.

“I don't think we should be swearing in those situations. I think we are old enough and sane enough to know what to say and what not to say.

“For me, that's just a matter of education and manners.”

However, the Williams driver highlighted it is a different story when it comes to drivers swearing in the heat of the moment when behind the wheel.

“What we see on the radio, I don't agree with what is happening, and I think you cannot be too tough on  these kind of things,” he said.

“You cannot understand the pressure, the adrenaline and the way we feel inside a car when we open that radio.

“And I honestly think for F1, it’s good to have those kind of moments because you see the real driver.

“We are already very constrained as F1 drivers to what we can tell you about our teams, about our situations. We already have a lot of media briefings.

“They already tell us what to say sometimes, and what not to see on the radio. 

“But when you hear that passion, when you hear those words, even if sometimes we swear on the radio, for me, that's a keeper in F1 shouldn't be something we should get rid of.”