Vasseur and Vowles on swearing saga engulfing Formula 1

Granted, a lot of the language is spicy. These are athletes at the pinnacle of a sport, delivering just about everything they can on every level. We hear banter, joy, confusion, etc., and of course, the frustration of battle, where swear words are used in every sport, business, and daily life. Swearing is part and parcel of the English language landscape.

Let's be honest and not hypocritical. One cannot point out drivers for their swearing when gutter language was condoned and even celebrated. Former Haas F1 Team principal Guenther Steiner, whose abusive language during his reign set the benchmark. Or rather, how low F1 would go.

How can it be a year later that there is the audacity to command drivers to temper their words not only over the team radio but even in their daily speech with media, for example?

Who told Ben Sulayem that what F1 drivers say harms kids' sensitivities? Seriously? Children of mouse-moving age all can and do tap into the internet where there is no holy cow, least of the ills is swearing.

Yes, rappers swear all the time. Nevertheless, the genre of music happens to be one of the most popular forms of entertainment for the youth of today, of any colour. Furthermore, many rappers are where they are today only because men of Ben Sulayem's generation—their managers, their agents—'sell'' them to a wanton youth.

The "We are not rappers" comment by the FIA President, who had gone refreshingly quiet after Susie Wolff filed a legal complaint against Ben Sulayem in a French court, inevitably caught the eye of Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula 1 champion, always ultra-aware of any hints of racism in the paddock, and quick to point them out, as he did to reporters before track action began in Singapore.

Inevitably, the team principals were brought into swearing discussion as they are in command of pit walls that radio information to their drivers, who react appropriately or not.

Speaking to reporters in Singapore, Ferrari Fred shared his thoughts: First, I'm not sure that I'm the best reference to speak about it. And I think we have to make a difference on the language during the race. Because I think this is one of the only sports where...

"You don't have a microphone on the football player or whatever. I don't want to say the football player as a reference, but we have to understand also that they are driving the car at 350 kph, and I'm not sure that the language is the first priority for them when they are driving the car, and I can perfectly understand that.

"We can discuss the other approach, and again, I won't do it for obvious reasons, but I think when they are in the car, it's a bit harsh," added Vasseur.

Williams F1 team boss James Vowles agreed with Vasseur: "When you're actually out there in the moment and even at a point where you think someone has challenged your life, which is often some of the manoeuvres there end up being, all of you, everyone in this room would have an emotional reaction to that.

"There are two differences to it. Clearly, I understand we're a world sport, and there's elements that we have to remain under control. And there are other situations where perhaps language has been used on a slowdown lap or stationary in the pit lane that can absolutely be avoided.

"But we have to also try and keep in mind that we have some of the most elite athletes in the world putting their lives on the line as gladiators, and that will cause an emotional reaction. And as many words as I can use with them here in the calm of the moment, you've still got adrenaline flowing through the body, and it'd be very difficult to change that.

"I mean, Franco swore today, if I'm completely transparent, but we'll have a chat with him later about that. That wasn't for any other reason than that he forgot something. That we can clean up. But I think in the heat of the moment, we're asking a lot of athletes," ventured Vowles.