Mohammed ben Sulayem, FIA President. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Formula 1 Rumors

F1 Rumor: FIA may eliminate team radio from TV broadcasts

Posted by AR1 staff

Recently, the FIA has sparked some controversy with its clampdown on driver swearing on the team radio as well as in press conferences.  Starting from the 2025 season, F1 drivers could risk losing Championship points for multiple offenses of verbal swearing that could cause ‘moral injury’ to the FIA.

Dear FIA: Please define Moral Injury, or is it subjective?

In a recent interview, President Ben Sulayem revealed a range of measures that are being considered by the Federation. Among these considerations is the potential to stop the broadcasting of team radios.

Swearing in team radio messages are usually bleeped out but occasionally one gets through. This topic was never a huge issue until the FIA decided to make it a huge issue.

Drivers like Yuki Tsunoda gets pretty heated on the team radio. However, a direct head-to-head between 4-time World Driving Champion Max Verstappen and the FIA last season saw tensions dramatically escalate.

The Dutchman was penalized with community service for swearing in an official press conference. The GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association) quickly responded by showing its support for Verstappen.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Max Verstappen had a clear-the-air meeting with the FIA president in Qatar
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Max Verstappen had a clear-the-air meeting with the FIA president in Qatar

In a statement released by the GPDA last November, drivers referenced Ben Sulayem’s conduct, urging “the FIA president to also consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers.”

In another move to clampdown on drivers stepping out of line, more action is being considered.

During a recent interview, President Ben Sulayem was asked how the FIA could combat driver profanity:

“Do we go on and then shut down the radios of live communication? Maybe.

“Do we delay it? Maybe,” he said in a video shared by Soy Motor.

“There is a lot of things that we will work [on] with our promoter…

“We [are – the FIA, not Liberty Media] still the owners of the Championship.”

It seems likely both drivers and fans will oppose these new team radio and press conference measures – which could create a volatile situation to kick off the 2025 Championship.