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Motorsport

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell blast FIA president’s swearing ban U-turn

Lewis Hamilton George Russell FIA F1 Ferrari Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has piled into the FIA president’s decision to row back on his swearing ban - saying the whole “ridiculous” situation is “a mess”.

Meanwhile, George Russell said Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s plans to climb down on its previous stance on punishing drivers seemed "all a bit suspect".

It comes after Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, revised penalties for drivers for swearing amid a backlash.

Under the original plans, F1 drivers could be fined €40,000 (£33,700) for a first offence, and double that - plus a ban for a second offence. However, that has now been reduced to €5,000 (£4,200) while the threat of a ban has been removed.

Hamilton was asked about the decision to backtrack ahead of the Imola Grand Prix and said: “It is ridiculous. I don't really know. Nothing I say is going to make any difference to it. It seems a bit of a mess there at the moment.

“There are lots of changes that are needed, for sure. But it doesn't really affect me. I don't see what's happened since then.”

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team (Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images)

Meanwhile, Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, said: "We're talking about a situation where things have been reverted because it was a little bit ludicrous in the first place.

"Of course we're happy to see that it [has been changed], but it should never have been there in the first place, if that makes sense.

"So it feels a bit wrong to be thanking [the FIA] for the changes when we shouldn't have been in that place to begin with.

"We've still had no correspondence with anyone from the senior level at the FIA. So yeah, it's all a bit suspect."

Russell was asked why he thought the drivers had not been spoken to directly by Ben Sulayem.

He added: "That's a good question. It seems more challenging than it should be really, but we've all put our views forward.

"I wouldn't say it's gotten to a point of no return, but you at least want to see willingness from the other party.

"I think we feel we've put our views forward, and we want to have conversations and dialogue, and there's only so much you can ask."

Photos from Emilia Romagna GP - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Tyre warmers in the Paddock

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Mercedes bodywork

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and Peter Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Flags at the Ayrton Senna Memorial

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

A Roland Ratzenberger flag on the fencing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari talk with Peter Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Alan Permane, RB F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Thursday

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Formula 1

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George Russell

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