Updates to the FIA’s International Sporting Code for 2025 implement unprecedentedly severe penalties for violating restrictions on speech implemented by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in his camping to shape F1 according to his own morality and what he considers “responsible.” Which, to be clear, he has stated is NOT black people “rappers.” He also stated explicitly in an interview with Autosport that these rules are designed to silence any criticism of those who pay the FIA and it’s partners enough money.
“You cannot go to a country and abuse a country. Because they pay all of this money. If you don’t like it [there], don’t go. If you take a license from the FIA, you have to respect the source that is giving you the licence.” [Autosport, 9/19/24]
Points for honesty I guess.
Article 12.2.1.f ISC: Any words, deeds, or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, it’s bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA.
– 1st Offense: 10,000 Euro fine
– 2nd Offense: 20,000 Euro fine, 1 month suspension (suspended)
– 3rd Offense: 30,000 Euro fine, 1 month suspension, deduction of championship points
Article 12.2.1.l ISC: ****Any Misconduct as defined by Article 20 of the ISC
– 1st Offense: 10,000 Euro fine
– 2nd Offense: 20,000 Euro fine, 1 month suspension (suspended)
– 3rd Offense: 30,000 Euro fine, 1 month suspension, deduction of championship points
Article 20, Definitions – Misconduct: to be understood in particular but not limited to: he general use of language (written or verbal), gesture and/or sign that is offensive, insulting, coarse, rude or abusive and might reasonably be expected or be perceived to be coarse or rude or to cause offense, humiliation or to be inappropriate, assaulting (elbowing, kicking, punching, hitting, etc.); incitement to do any of the above.
Love the but not limited to, so it means whatever you want it to mean in that moment. Lumping in assault and generally being rude together under one term as if that is the same thing at all is also stupid. It also really underscores FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s angle here which is to lump and disapproval expressed at his erratic and unpopular choices in with illegal and harmful acts towards people who are not in very public positions of power.
He unilaterally enacted deliberately strict guidelines on speech and personal conduct to force f1 personnel to act in a manner in accordance with the law or even any sort of consensus but in a manner that he deems appropriate and “responsible.” When there was resistance because this isn’t grade school and silencing any and all decent is actually pretty hard he decided to double down. That’s what this is, fining drivers was not enough so he will ban then from multiple races. This is unprecedented a sporting penalty so extreme has been reserved for rare sporting violations or a technical infraction. All in what is so clearly a futile to protect his own fragile ego from the reality that his actions are widely unpopular.
Article 12.2.1.n ISC: Any public incitement to violence or hatred.
– 1st Offense: 10,000 Euro fine
– 2nd Offense: 20,000 Euro fine, 1 month suspension (suspended)
– 3rd Offense: 30,000 Euro fine, 1 month suspension, deduction of championship points
This could be good if it was targeted at hate speech but again you need to be specific in order to be effective because violence is one thing that is pretty black and while but “hate” is very nebulous. I would be very supportive of defining hate speech in something like the way that the Cambridge Dictionary does, as “ public speech that expresses hate or encourages violence toward a person or group based on something such as race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation (= the fact of being gay, etc.).” Unfortunately Sulayem has already revealed what he considers “inciting hate” in one of the many tirades about how people are mean to him.
In a social media post Ben Sulayem said the latest change had been made in response to research conducted by the FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign “As part of our ongoing fight against online abuse, recent investigations have shown that there is a direct link between negative comments from drivers and team members and increased hate directed towards officials on social media,” he said. “At the last World Motor Sport Council, members approved a change to the definition of misconduct within the ISC following incidents in which high profile members of our sport have made statements towards officials that incite abuse. This change will ensure further support for the FIA officials and volunteers who dedicate their time to improving our sport, keeping it safe and fair.” [RaceFans, 8/14/24]
I just have to point out off the bat that he is using a classic tactic when someone in a position of power does something bad or makes a mistake they point to the minority of crazy people online who inevitably take things too far and paint any criticism with that brush. Furthermore, hiding behind the stewards and Marshalls who are largely anonymous save for those that are already public figures like Johnny Herbert is so transparent. He is an FIA official, he just made it punishable with a suspension from F1, an unprecedented penalty outside of the points system that has lead to a single race suspension exactly ONCE. For, let’s be clear about this, any criticism of any decision, remarks, mandate by any FIA official.
Jackie Stewart could have faced on track consequences for advocating for barriers at the Nurburgring and Zandvoort. They are effectively silencing any means of decent or organization by the peoples who’s lives and safety are at stake in these decisions. It’s beyond draconian and if you think forbidding any criticism of the FIA from within the paddock is going to raise the tone of online discourse you’re delusional.
The most infuriating part is that of course he will still be able to go on his unhinged rants mid-interview and slag off whoever he likes. He was just ranting and raving about the “British Media” 3 months ago did that criticism not incite hate? Because, of course, there are people who take it well over the line in that discussion as well. Outlawing fair and well reasoned criticism, or even simple frustration in the same of preventing threats and harassment is disingenuous and illogical. Funnily, it’s usually not very effective at improving the overall approval of the powers at be either, which is clearly this President’s intention but I digress.
Article 12.2.1.o ISC: The General making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its statutes, unless previously approved in writing by the FIA for International Competitions, or by the relevant ASN for National Competitions within their Jurisdiction.
– 1st Offense: 10,000 Euro fine (potentially suspended), “public apology and repudiation of comments”
– 2nd Offense: 20,000 Euro fine, 1 month suspension (suspended), “public apology and repudiation of comments”
– 3rd Offense: 30,000 Euro fine, 1 month suspension, deduction of championship points, “public apology and repudiation of comments”
There are no guidelines for approval of “political, religious and personal statements” so presumably it is simply at Sulayem’s discretion. This explains the campaign appearance McLaren hosted for Trump while he was literally running for the highest political office in America as he was accompanied by Sulayem. Here’s the thing, you don’t get to have it both ways. He is allowed to make any statement he deems acceptable. He has made clear what message he wants to send. Through his actions, but also he actually laid it out in an interview from
Ben Sulayem gave an interview with GrandPrix247 during last month’s Monaco Grand Prix and was asked “What should the sport NOT become in your opinion?” His response, in part, was as follows: “Niki Lauda and Alain Prost only cared about driving. Now, Vettel drives a rainbow bicycle, Lewis is passionate about human rights and Norris addresses mental health. Everybody has the right to think. To me, it is about deciding whether we should impose our believes in something over the sport all the time.”[Sports Illustrated, 6/9/22]
First of all saying “passionate about human rights” as a negative example of what the sport should not become is actually crazy like not even a spinzone of ‘political causes’ or some other bs he was literally like fuck human rights like come on. Regardless, he has made it almost impossibly clear what “political, religious and personal statements” he will not sign off on.
I also have to remind everyone of the initial defense to the understandable push back on the statement that Sebastian Vettel having a rainbow on his bike is the greatest issue facing Formula 1. A rainbow squiggle on a bike, opening up about mental health, and Lewis’ t-shirt’s. This is what keeps him up at night.
“Everybody has the right to think. To me, it is about deciding whether we should impose our beliefs in something over the sport all the time. I am from an Arabian culture. I am international and Muslim. I do not impose my beliefs on other people. No way. Never. If you look at my operation in the UAE: 16 nationalities! Name me one federation that has that many nationalities. On top, there are over 34% women and 7 religions. And even more Christians than Muslims. I am proud because it creates credibility and merit. But do I go and pose my beliefs? No.” [The Race, 6/9/22]
Expressing your own opinion or an individual expressing solidarity with a minority group is not “imposing” anything on anyone. It is expressing their own stance and someone who has no interest in imposing their view on others is not so upset by someone expressing a different view. He has set up an entire system to allow him to impose his beliefs on every single person in the paddock because HE has to approve any opinion one might dare to voice.
Article 12.2.1.p ISC: Failure to comply with the instructions of the FIA regarding the appointment and participation of persons during official ceremonies at any competition counting towards a FIA championship.
– 1st Offense: 15,000 Euro fine
– 2nd Offense: 30,000 Euro fine, suspension of access to “Reserved Areas” of event for next event.
– 3rd Offense: 40,000 Euro fine, 1 month suspension, deduction of championship points, suspension of access to “Reserved Areas” of event for 6 months.
This I also find interesting, I’m not sure what “reserved areas” mean, perhaps as a mechanic you could not go on the grid. If this was applied to a driver could they not enter the track and therefore be disqualified? Or is it intended for team members? I will say this, although less outwardly offensive, is probably the most restrictive.
This means that everything prescribed in the Race Directors instructions (which are published before each event) must be followed exactly. For example Carlos, Seb, Lance, and Bottas were all reprimanded for keeping their “We Race as One” T-Shirt’s on for the national anthem in Hungary. The jewelry issue, even being late are things that were previously given warnings or fines but now punishable by suspension for what could be three races if the timing is bad.
The wildest part about this is that what is really comes down to it I don’t even really think he is carrying out some grand political agenda against ~the woke~ I think he’s a bumbling idiot who is so spineless and delusional that he actually cannot handle the fact that he get any kind of push back or criticism of himself or the FIA at large, as it’s reputation during his time as President reflects on him, that he would rather ban questions rather than answer them. Which probably tells you something about the answer..
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