Regarding the Mads issue, while I'm surprised the FIA got involved, particularly to the extent they have, it isn't necessarily an incident without consequence for the sport. Personally it doesn't bother me at all, but from a UK regulatory point of view (sorry NOT, if you're out there!), if OFCOM (UK TV regulator) were aware of this being broadcast and were aware how often spearing was being broadcast pre-watershed (9pm) during WRC, they'd be fining BT Sport (UK WRC broadcaster) for repeated violations. Isolated incidents are fine, but OFCOM have been/are particularly bothered by repeated breaches of regulations where nothing is seen to be done to prevent a reoccurrence. An odd 's***' or 'f***' they'll get away with, but for some reason 'f***ing' is considered worse, and repetition seen as worse and avoidable by the broadcast for failing to intervene or cut away. A large part of why F1 went to delayed radio playout is because of OFCOM influence. Some context can be seen here for a far more minor incident in F1:
https://motorsportbroadcasting.com/2...ttel-swearing/
While I absolutely don't want the sport having to bow down to UK TV regs, I'd imagine BT Sport is one of the higher paying rights holders to WRC, so the Promoter may have been warned by BT that they're putting them at risk of trouble/fine. The FIA probably acted on the Promoters behalf as they don't have a mechanism to do it themselves. Plus BT, as a big organisation, wouldn't want to be broadcasting that kind of language at that time of the morning regardless. UK rally fans are obviously a sensible bunch, as seemingly no one has complained about any of the swearing broadcast so OFCOM haven't been made aware. But I have to say this, I've NEVER heard anywhere near as much swearing on British TV pre watershed (9pm) as I have during the last couple of years on WRC live. It's literally an exceptional case.
EDIT: I should add, this was broadcast on BT Sport 3 rather than behind the 'red button' interactive service as it was a TV stage. While it may be a coincidence, the feed cut out a couple of times (which also wouldn't have pleased BT). After the Mads incident, when the feed dropped out, BT Sport didn't wait long for it to return and went to alternative programming instead.
Paddon: "We’re expecting plenty of intense rallying and we’ve been working hard while we were home in New Zealand utilizing our Hyundai i20 Rally2 car to develop a few upgrades to be implemented...
[ERC] Royal Rally of Scandinavia...