Mind your P's and Q's!

[Andy B]

So F1 is to clamp down on the language used by drivers which for me is about time!
Standards have/are slipping and whereas a swear word was dropped in to enhance a comment it is getting to the point for some that it is in every sentence they speak.
Am I showing my age here?
I rarely swear as I find I can express myself without it but obviously some people seem to need it MV being one of them but is it appropriate with youngsters idolising drivers?

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-no-words-fia-swearing-punishment

[Dare]

Cut the cussing F1. Show some class

[rmassart]

Personally I don't care. For me these are private conversations, often in the heat of the moment, between themselves and their race engineer.  It's not their fault the FIA has decided to broadcast the messages to the world. We'll never know the words going through the minds and mouths of Fangio, Hunt, Stewart, Senna etc... I am sure they weren't all the Queen's English.

They are not swearing in public once out of the car, as far as I am aware.

There's also a point to note about swearing in English by non native speakers and this relates also to the point Verstappen made, that he used the word "****ed" as he understood it (ie broken). Whilst it's a poor excuse, there is something to this. I've lived most of my life in countries where English is not an official language, and I can confirm that the locals swear far more when speaking English than in their own language. Often they'll swear in English when speaking in their own language. Most have never formally learned English beyond a few lessons in secondary school. So whilst they've picked it up as they go a long, they've not learned how to use the language properly. Even at work I've had colleagues use swear words in English they I have never heard them speak in their own language... 

[Andy B]

I think we'll have to disagree the drivers know they are being broadcast around the world its where their millions come from.
I'm watch the rugby, Aussie v All Blacks, an Aussie player has been told by the ref "If you swear at me again I will penalise you" so it's not just in motorsport that is raising its standards.
I was watching Mv being interviewed today on Sky and he never swore once so he knows!

[John S]

If F1 drivers can carry many, many data points & brake balance changes in their heads for instant response I see no reason why they can't keep their language in check too.

Any driver who is hot headed enough to cuss, swear or moan excessively has no place on the grid. 
Just shows they've not got proper control of their focus, that's a symptom of Road Rage, which should be stamped on by sensible/serious team principals. 

[Jericoke]

I believe in the past F1 drivers would intentionally swear during communications they didn't want to be 'public'.  I'm going to guess the issue is that the number of radio messages without swearing is small enough to wonder if people are still swearing on purpose.

An honest slip of the tongue after a scary moment is fine.  Cruising around the track complaining about tires or backmarkers, that's clearly something for the PC police.

(Personally, I don't mind.  It gets bleeped.  If your kids are foul mouthed, it's not because they watch F1.)

[cosworth151]

I can understand dinging Max for cursing in the press conference. I'd say the same for the "drivers pen" interviews and other things away from the heat of competition.

On track radio and grabbing a driver who just got run off the track by another car is an entirely different matter. On a weekend when the most exciting thing on track was a lizard (who handled far better than a few of the cars) F1 has far more important things to be worried about.

[rmassart]

I'm watch the rugby, Aussie v All Blacks, an Aussie player has been told by the ref "If you swear at me again I will penalise you" so it's not just in motorsport that is raising its standards.

Note that this is different though. This is swearing at an official. I doubt very much that any F1 driver would ever swear at a steward or race director.  And I am sure the rugby players are swearing amongst themselves throughout the match.

Certainly in footbal (soccer) you sometimes wonder whether the players remember words other than swear words when they step onto the pitch.

[Robem64]

I know the use of coarse language is against the rule book but if the concern is the young audience hearing a swear word then maybe don't play out team radio where, although bleeped, it's quite obvious what curse word the drivers are using. I'd suggest more of the young audience watch the actual race than watch the press conference.

[Andy B]

I know the use of coarse language is against the rule book but if the concern is the young audience hearing a swear word then maybe don't play out team radio where, although bleeped, it's quite obvious what curse word the drivers are using. I'd suggest more of the young audience watch the actual race than watch the press conference.

In car comments are delayed giving time to add bleeps!
All done in the UK I believe.

[John S]

I know the use of coarse language is against the rule book but if the concern is the young audience hearing a swear word then maybe don't play out team radio where, although bleeped, it's quite obvious what curse word the drivers are using. I'd suggest more of the young audience watch the actual race than watch the press conference.

In car comments are delayed giving time to add bleeps!
All done in the UK I believe.

Oh nice, blame us for the bleeps, Andy! 

[Andy B]

I know the use of coarse language is against the rule book but if the concern is the young audience hearing a swear word then maybe don't play out team radio where, although bleeped, it's quite obvious what curse word the drivers are using. I'd suggest more of the young audience watch the actual race than watch the press conference.

In car comments are delayed giving time to add bleeps!
All done in the UK I believe.

Oh nice, blame us for the bleeps, Andy! 

Are you owning up to it being you John? LOL