Ben Sulayem recently took a hard stance on drivers’ language, penalizing Max Verstappen with community service and fining Charles Leclerc 10,000 euros for using the word “f*ck” in press conferences.

The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), via its new Instagram account, issued a statement emphasizing that drivers are “gladiators” deserving serious treatment. The statement highlighted the difference between “insulting” language and “casual swearing,” citing Verstappen’s comment about his “inanimate” car and Leclerc’s mention of a “driving situation.”

“We urge the FIA president to also consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise,” the drivers said.

The statement continued, “Our members are adults, they do not need to be given instructions via the media, about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery and underpants.”

The GPDA also questioned the financial penalties imposed on drivers, asking Ben Sulayem to “share the details and strategy” of “where the funds are spent.”

Dutch racing personality Tom Coronel believes the GPDA has made a strong stand.

“The message is ‘stop this now’,” Coronel told Dutch radio Slam. “They’re saying, ‘We understand up to a point, but we are the actors and we want to partly determine the rules of the game.’

“It is becoming a bit of a tug of war.”

Coronel added, “I think it’s important that the FIA makes a point about name-calling, but I also think it’s important that the drivers say, ‘This far and no further.’

“The rules should be determined by the FIA in consultation with the drivers,” he concluded. “That’s really what this is all about.”

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