Wolff finds 'trick' loophole in controversial FIA changes after own stewards investigation

Toto Wolff has backed the FIA's controversial changes to penalties for F1 drivers for swearing after his own investigation by stewards.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is keen to see a reduction in swearing from drivers, especially when they are not in the car, with Max Verstappen hauled in front of stewards for using foul language in the pre-Singapore GP press conference last season.

Verstappen was eventually handed community service as punishment, but in time for the new season, the rules have been tightened further, with points deductions and race bans a possibility for drivers. 

Wolff himself was called to see the stewards after dropping the f-bomb during a fiery 2023 Las Vegas GP press conference, along with Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur. 

Speaking on the situation, Wolff backed the FIA changes, and also spied a loophole in the regulations.

"I mean, I was called to the stewards with Fred in Las Vegas [in 2023], and I really liked that," he told media including RacingNews365.

"I've never been called to the stewards so that was a good experience, so we've had it on the radar for more than a year, but I think it all depends on how it is handled.

 "Obviously, if it goes too far and every single occasion when a driver expresses his emotion in the car, you're getting a penalty handed out, I think this would be overreaching. 

"But I also found that my opinion is that it has escalated too much, particularly the non-native English people, they don't know the nuances of the F word or the S word, and it is becoming a little bit of a pattern that everybody uses in the race.

"Having it as a warning signal, if you are a civilised person, is quite good, but interpretation is going to be the trick."