Martin Brundle has spoken out in favour of the FIA's controversial new punishments for Formula 1 drivers. In an update to its International Sporting Code ahead of the 2025 F1 season, the sport's governing body issued new guidance to stewards for punishing certain infringements made by drivers. The offences listed includes causing "moral injury to the FIA" - criticising the governing body - and the use of "coarse" or "rude" language, which would include swearing.
Repeat offences could be very costly. A third infringement within a two-year period comes with a fine of more than £100,000 for F1 drivers. And there are also sporting penalties to be considered - a second offence prompts a suspended one-month suspension, which is enforced upon the third rule break alongside the docking of an unspecified number of World Championship points from the guilty party.
Many within the FIA are said to be unhappy about the changes which were made without consulting F1 stakeholders or the drivers themselves, and are said to have been ushered in during a swift e-vote with little due process. And the racers themselves are likely to be furious, having already expressed their concern about the actions of the FIA under president Mohammed ben Sulayem.
But the governing body has at least found some support for its stance on swearing. It comes from Brundle who, while speaking to Sky Sports News, expressed his belief that drivers should indeed mind their language while taking part in press conferences and official duties away from the racetrack.
