Tsunoda delivers hilarious response to FIA swearing threat

Yuki Tsunoda has vowed to not "fudge up" and get fined for swearing under the harsh new rules laid out by the FIA.

The motorsport governing body will punish drivers racing in championships it oversees, including F1, with financial penalties - and even suspensions and points deductions - for a range of offences, including swearing and speaking ill of the FIA.

Tsunoda, who is known for his often liberal use of profanity, is someone who could quickly find himself on the receiving end of the long arm of the law under the strict new stewards' penalty guidelines, which have been added to the FIA International Sporting Code for 2025.

The topic has been one of the major talking points of the winter and with F1 returning from its off-season, how exactly the changes will work is still a matter for debate.

However, it appears the championship, its governing body and those racing in it have struck an early compromise. It is a development that will no doubt come as much welcome music to Tsunoda's ears.

When asked about the issue and the steps taken by the FIA, the 24-year-old diffused the situation with some comic relief, despite touching upon a key sentiment shared by many within the F1 paddock.

The Racing Bulls driver underlined the importance of those racing in the upper echelons of motorsport being able to express themselves.

"As a personal opinion, for me it's the thing that shows your personality," the Japanese driver said to media including RacingNews365.

"Obviously, there's a limit. You will reach that threshold and it can be very toxic, it's not a [type of] word that you want to hear."

Tsunoda highlighted how well prepared the drivers are to avoid getting themselves into trouble when speaking to the press, with media duties expected to be the main remit of the new rules, not within the cockpit as first feared.

"In general, in sports, I guess it's not just us swearing, but for us, we have proper [media] training to not swear much," he continued. "And actually, I don't swear much recently.

"Maybe I will swear more than before because I can't swear now in racing, so I'll try to not fudge up and not get fined," he added to laughter from the journalists present.