Lewis Hamilton has criticized FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for suggesting Formula 1 drivers sound like “rappers” when using swear words on team radio.
Ben Sulayem said ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend that he is trying to make changes, so that there is less bad language broadcast by FOM (Formula One Management), which has control over the world feed for all F1 sessions.
The FIA ​​president said Autosport: “I mean, we have to make a distinction between sports – motorsport – and rap music.
“We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word several times a minute? We’re not in. That’s people and we (us).”
Hamilton said he understood Ben Sulayem’s concerns about excessive swearing but there was a “racial element” to the FIA ​​president’s reference to rap music.
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Lewis Hamilton reflected on his ‘sad’ weekend in Baku and explained how he will go into the Singapore Grand Prix with a different mindset.
“With what he said, I don’t like him,” Hamilton said. “Saying rappers is a stereotype because most rappers are black.
“You’re really pointing out ‘we’re not like them’, so I think it’s a bad choice of words and there’s a racial element in there.
“I agree that there are some things that need to be cleaned up but it’s also good to have emotions because we’re not robots.”
Sky Sports has approached the FIA ​​for comment on Hamilton’s comments.
Team radio is an integral part of modern F1 coverage, providing viewers with insight through being able to hear teams and drivers discussing strategy, as well as live reactions to events and race conditions.
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Listen to the heated radio messages exchanged after the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix
Hamilton, who rarely uses expletives over the team radio, said he thinks the kids are watching the race when he chooses his language.
“On the one hand, when I was 22, I didn’t think about it,” said the seven-time world champion. “It’s more that your emotions just burn and you just say whatever comes to mind, forgetting how many people are listening, the children are listening, all the different things.
“So I agree that you listen to some of the other drivers and they just haven’t got it yet and at some stage they probably will.
“I’m sure if you have punishment, people will stop. I don’t know what it takes, but I think it’s a lot.”
Verstappen: Even the five-year-old will swear eventually
World championship leader Max Verstappen rejected Ben Sulayem’s suggestion that drivers should swear less, stressing the FIA’s responsibility not to spread foul language.
Verstappen has been criticized, as recently as the Hungarian Grand Prix in July, for his actions on the team’s radio, which often used expletives.
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Verstappen struggled to contain his frustration with his team as he finished sixth in Italy
“I think you will swear anyway. If not in this room it can be anywhere else. Everyone swears, some people are bitten more than others,” said the three-time world champion.
“It also depends on what language you speak. Of course, abuse is something else. I think a lot of things that are broadcast now, in other sports you don’t walk around with a mic attached to you.
“I think a lot of people say a lot of bad things when they are full of adrenaline in other sports, they just can’t take it. Here, maybe for entertainment, things are sent and there people can pick up on, discuss on social media and you get all sorts of trouble.
“So I think we started by not broadcasting. If you don’t broadcast, nobody knows.
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Christian Horner defended Verstappen’s radio talk saying he was a ‘passionate driver’ and the team had moved on from the incident.
“Maybe only in the world we live in, in sports but also in general it seems like people are a bit more sensitive to it. That’s how it is.”
Shortly before being asked about Ben Sulayem’s comments, Verstappen had swore during Thursday’s official press conference in Singapore as he reflected on his struggles at last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old said he wasn’t worried if a youngster heard him using foul language, believing everyone would swear “eventually”.
“It’s going to help a lot more than banning drivers because for example, I can’t say the F word. I mean it’s not even that bad? The car doesn’t work, the car is f—ed,” he said. Verstappen.
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Fernando Alonso was not happy with Hamilton’s pace during second practice at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
“Then, I apologize for the language but come on, what about us? Five, six-year-old children? Even if five-year-old or six-year-old children watch it, it means that it will end. swear even if their parents don’t want to or don’t want to.
“When he grows up, he’ll be walking around with his friends and he’ll swear. So you know it doesn’t change anything.”
Norris: You’re listening to the driver
The consensus of many of F1’s leading drivers, including Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and Lando Norris, is that swearing should not be banned.
Norris said F1 had a choice not to broadcast bad language and thought swearing could emphasize the message on the radio.
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Listen to the radio message from McLaren throughout the Hungarian Grand Prix
“He just can’t play the radio. We are men in the heat of the moment, under stress, under pressure, having a big accident,” the McLaren driver said.
“It’s just easier for them to say than for us what to do because we are out there putting our hearts on the line in trying to race people and we give it our all. Our heart rate is very high.
“We just put our passion and our love. Of course there will be some bad words on the other side, but just because we try, we want to give our best and we find it hard to do when things don’t go our way.
“I’m sure you have it in each other’s sports, it’s just not always recorded.”
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George Russell and Toto Wolff were hilarious after the Mercedes driver swore on the team radio
Norris, who is trying to chase down Verstappen in the Drivers Championship, suggested that alternative child-friendly feeds can be made available to ensure that adults can still enjoy the “rawness” of radio communication.
“He’s got a choice,” Norris said. “He got all the radio and press that it’s public. You have children who listen and young people, so from that side you don’t want to go out, but only the spirit of the sport and we want to perform at our best. .
“I don’t think it should be banned. If parents know, they can choose between the bleeped out version and the non-bleeped out version, like in the movies. You listen raw to the driver and his feelings.
“When I listen to it, I feel cool and I love that you listen like that.
“It’s not just soft language that people use. So, I’m sure there’s a lot of other sports and things to watch if you want to hear it.”
Singapore GP schedule live Sky Sports F1
Friday September 20th
08.15: F1 Academy Practice
10am: Singapore GP Practice One (session starts at 10.30am)
11.55: F1 Academy Qualifying
13.45: Singapore GP Practice Two (session starts at 14.00)
15.15: F1 event
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Take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments that happened at the Singapore Grand Prix
Saturday 21 September
8am: F1 Academy Race One
10.15am: Singapore GP Practice Three (session starts 10.30am)
13:00 Singapore GP Qualifying
14:00: SINGAPORE GP QUALIFYING*
4pm: Ted’s Qualification Notebook
Sunday, September 22
8.30: F1 Academy Race Two
11:30: Grand Prix Sunday: Singapore GP build-up
13.00: SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
15:00 Checkered Flag: Singapore GP reaction
4pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
The thrilling 2024 Formula 1 season continues on Sky Sports F1 this weekend with more spectacular road circuit action, this time under the lights at the Singapore Grand Prix. Stream every F1 race and more with Sports Month Membership NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
