Formula 1 has seen a huge increase in popularity in the United States in recent years. One of the factors is that so many fans know the drivers and their personalities thanks to Netflix’s Drive to Survive. Another factor is the in-car audio that F1 races air showing the drivers’ real-time reactions in their best and their worst moments.
But for FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, it’s too much personality. And in an interview with Autosport, Ben Sulayem says that he wants F1 drivers to tone down their use of foul language. But he did so in probably the most bizarre, tone-deaf, and laughable way possible – by saying he didn’t want F1 drivers to sound like rappers.
Via Autosport:
In an exclusive interview with Autosport, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed he is making moves to try to change the tone of the content that is aired to fans.
He says the drivers themselves have a certain responsibility to monitor what they are saying, before adding that a request has been put in to FOM to limit the communication of bad language.
“We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music,” Ben Sulayem said.
“We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”
Ah, yes, of course. Because one could easily confuse Max Verstappen with Kendrick Lamar, right?
While the rap music criticism seems like it’s something straight out of the 1980s, the F1 drivers were not amused with Ben Sulayem’s desire for censorship.
Reigning champion Verstappen, who has been known to have an outburst or two on the team radio, scoffed at Ben Sulayem’s remarks. Via TalkSport:
“I sometimes swear, that’s true, but that will apply to everyone in this room,” he began. “Insulting someone is something else.
“We are unlucky that it is all broadcast and people can then pick it up. The car is f***ed – can’t I say that? How old are we, five or six years old? That is ridiculous.
“And even if children of that age watch this, when they get a bit older they will probably also use a swear word when they are with their friends.”
Lando Norris also said that F1 races would lose their “rawness” without some of these exchanges being aired, and it’s definitely true. There are very few other sports that allow fans team or player communication while the event is happening. While the F1 comments aren’t live, they are shown within the context of the race and are a huge part in telling a story, especially when overtaking on the track is limited.
Why those exchanges should be censored and sanitized for a global audience, especially with such incomprehensible motivations, is truly baffling. Furthermore, how is Yuki Tsunoda even expected to race under such stifling conditions?
