Drivers using the F-word and the problems around

[Rallyper]

Here, guys.

Feel free to discuss whatever the role an F-word can play in the WRC/ERC, so we can leave the Rally Sweden thread with positive vibes instead.

[denkimi]

I'm not american or a little child, so I don't care about people swearing.

[ShiftyLV]

Drivers are not required to actually do the stage end interviews. With ridiculous fines like these in the end no one will say anything and we will just get "interviews" like Formaux after his helmet error.
I seem to remember Ogier not talking at stage ends in one rally years ago. Can't remember what was the reason behind it.
I wouldn't mind if everyone went silent in support of Formaux and to stick it to Muhammed...

[B group]

Ogier and Tanak last season, I don't remember which rally it was, but in protest against the FIA ​​penalties on the first day, they all used the same phrase "All good" in their interviews after the finish.
Apparently the FIA ​​wants to achieve this.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

What Fourmaux said wasn't that bad as it wasn't done in a nasty way, or cursing at someone.

To be honest I though he said "we cocked up" until the commentator apologised. :D

[TypeR]

Imagine this today :D 1million eur fine and banned from racing probably :D
https://youtu.be/2gS4Uy6sq20?si=11L1Urz2ZdFVTHcu

[denkimi]

maybe the wrc drivers should unionize with the F1 drivers and try to get rid of the clowns that now run the FIA.

[Mary Mary]

I honestly think if you are losing your mind over a single F word, then you need to grow up imo.

I agree. I think everybody can agree. However the rule the stewards must follow wasn't installed because of a single instance. It's an FIA-wide ruling. People here support there being need for a rule, but are concentrating too much at applying it at rally stop lines. How should they word that rule without making any discipline-particular statements that the stewards across motorsport can work with in a consistent manner? Or they don't?

The catalyst for this rule was F1 drivers swearing in occasions such as pre-event press conferences. The FIA sees this as affecting their image, and I can't see another sporting series or governing body out there that would not or does not do the same. People are saying it's important the drivers need to develop an image, but neglect that the bodies, corporates and sponsors need to protect theirs too, else their wouldn't be anything to watch.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

On the Fourmaux case, he did spend many years at M-Sport. I'm sure the mechanics there used a lot of this 'industrial language' and it may have become natural for him to use it without thinking.

I'm also sure than most foreigners don't appreciate the strength of certain English swear words, not having grown up in the culture and learned the true taboo of them used in the wrong context

[Morte66]

Next time I am interviewed after completing a WRC stage I will swear in classical Greek and see if anybody at the FIA catches it.

[Duvel]

Silly FIA,

This kind of stuf make's me not a die hard fan any more..
Say something a bit wrong, and you get a big fine.
Do a donut, you're almost a criminal.
The Solberg corner incident in Monte,..

Shooting themselves in the foot!

If drivers go realy out of line, and curse a lot at some point, than ok, i get that they get a penalty. But this is just over the top!

The WRC needs drivers how have something to say, and can entertain the fans.
Hope the other drivers would do something as a protest, be silent for the next rally or so!

[SubaruNorway]

Two highlights from the F1 launch about the subject
https://www.youtube.com/live/Mw1r6DwYy-g?si=oO1isuwi7lLRNLBT&t=6689

https://www.youtube.com/live/Mw1r6DwYy-g?si=Wy9xa8ZdaI9e99Ow&t=5477

[denkimi]

racing used to be something for men. something exciting, something dangerous. someone swearing was the least bad thing that could happen.

I don't know what happened? when did the pussy's come in to complain about everything?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I saw the 1-hour Rally Sweden Review programme on TV last night. It was on at 10pm and they even cut out Evans saying 'shit' at his SS17 stage end !

[Franky]

I saw the 1-hour Rally Sweden Review programme on TV last night. It was on at 10pm and they even cut out Evans saying 'shit' at his SS17 stage end !

I believe you are correct with what you stated in your earlier post. People who don't speak English as their first language do not perceive the strength of the used swear words. And regarding 'shit' decided to search for the word and Ofcom. Apparently they've commissioned a research 4 years ago on offensive language - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/tv-radio-and-on-demand-research/tv-research/offensive-language-quick-reference-guide.pdf?v=326908

Page 5 has how people rated the swear words. Looking at the list, some of them left me puzzling. Like how the hell did BBC air Top Gear :D

Tor's posted links reference the young audience at the F1 show. I don't believe that the people following sports has actually got younger. At least I started following motorsports even younger than the kids in the first linked segment. The only difference is how much exposure people have nowadays. From the traditional media to social media. So things get a lot more amplified compared to the past but I don't believe creating a world that's been sanitized is any better than one where every other word is obscenity. In order to keep things sensible, we need gate keepers.

Also how do you monitor non-English swearing while covering live sports?

Has Gryazin ever gone on a swearing rant in Russian?

[denkimi]

Looking at the list, some of them left me puzzling. Like how the hell did BBC air Top Gear :D

They did before wokeness took over. Despite their enormous amount of viewers, they also had to go someplace else because the PC got too big on the BBC.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

In the UK there is something called the Watershed at 9pm, after which swearing is allowed on tv. Before this time it's not allowed to protect children.

Maybe as much live sport is shown in the daytime, the producers and sport authorities have to stop it being heard and apologise if it is.

[Franky]

In the UK there is something called the Watershed at 9pm, after which swearing is allowed on tv. Before this time it's not allowed to protect children.


Watershed is in nearly every country actually. But in the age of catch-up and video and social platforms, it's become a bit useless.

[spark13]

Has Gryazin ever gone on a swearing rant in Russian?

Yes, I don't remember what rally it was, but after an off some "blyat" word was spoken, probably unintentionally as a natural reaction=)
And it wasn't beeped, so was clearly heared in one of the wrc highlights videos.

[Jarek Z]

I believe you are correct with what you stated in your earlier post. People who don't speak English as their first language do not perceive the strength of the used swear words.

Yes, that's true. For example, I don't care when some English driver says f...ck or sh...t, but if Kajto started saying "kurwa" (Polish curse) in his stage-end interviews I would be shocked :)

[Mary Mary]

racing used to be something for men. something exciting, something dangerous. someone swearing was the least bad thing that could happen.

I don't know what happened? when did the pussy's come in to complain about everything?

Racing, and motorsport, used to be for gentlemen who could string a sentence that was going on public record without "filler".

[RZone]

Has Gryazin ever gone on a swearing rant in Russian?

Well, yes, he swears - these debriefings with the co-driver after each special stage sometimes contain swear words.

Usually these words are not negative or intended to insult someone, they are used purely to relieve an emotionally intense atmosphere. You can hear it from other drivers too, I guess.

[Rallyper]

Yes, that's true. For example, I don't care when some English driver says f...ck or sh...t, but if Kajto started saying "kurwa" (Polish curse) in his stage-end interviews I would be shocked :)

Or Finnish drivers saying vi**u... :)

[Franky]

Well, yes, he swears - these debriefings with the co-driver after each special stage sometimes contain swear words.

Usually these words are not negative or intended to insult someone, they are used purely to relieve an emotionally intense atmosphere. You can hear it from other drivers too, I guess.

Everyone swears. There's no question about that. My question was more about if there's ever been a moment in WRC/ERC, where he has had a rant using the very diverse swearing vocabulary of Russian language.

Nothing personal against him or the language.

[RZone]

My question was more about if there's ever been a moment in WRC/ERC, where he has had a rant using the very diverse swearing vocabulary of Russian language.

Yes, and more than once =) Never in an interview, though.

You can hear him swearing, in the second episode of More than Machine, at the moment where we see the subtitle “Adrien speaks in French”:

https://youtu.be/vrCgndRUhV4?si=G82l_XOZLF4PvOYz&t=1177

It's not Adrien and it is not French at all =) Made a lot of fun for Russian fans.

[Franky]

Yes, and more than once =) Never in an interview, though.

You can hear him swearing, in the second episode of More than Machine, at the moment where we see the subtitle “Adrien speaks in French”:

https://youtu.be/vrCgndRUhV4?si=G82l_XOZLF4PvOYz&t=1177

It's not Adrien and it is not French at all =) Made a lot of fun for Russian fans.

It's good that FIA and others don't understand it, otherwise they might have gotten an heart attack :D

[satnav]

Jari-Matti has a view,

https://rallyjournal.com/jari-matti-latvala-slams-fias-strict-stance-if-thats-what-they-want-they-have-to-stop-it/

[Jarek Z]

Imagine this today :D 1million eur fine and banned from racing probably :D
https://youtu.be/2gS4Uy6sq20?si=11L1Urz2ZdFVTHcu

Or this. Is it forbidden now? :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cko4smM0ekU

[Gregor-y]

I thought swearing in just about any language (that I recognize, anyway) was covered with a beep in WRC programming.

When I worked in Dublin it felt as if that word was required to be in every sentence.

[Mary Mary]

Jari-Matti has a view,

https://rallyjournal.com/jari-matti-latvala-slams-fias-strict-stance-if-thats-what-they-want-they-have-to-stop-it/

He gives a perfect example of when the blood is boiling

https://youtu.be/2ewRN8wWrVs?t=17

[EstWRC]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/wrc-drivers-ask-for-urgent-discussion-with-fia-president/

[rallyfiend]

Did this WORDA exist before this moment, or did they create it for this?

[tbazsi95]

Did this WORDA exist before this moment, or did they create it for this?

According to the Instagram page, they just created this: "WoRDA is the alliance of world rally drivers and codrivers, created in 2025 to enable the crews to express their opinions and defend their interests."
https://www.instagram.com/worda_official/

[PLuto]

https://i.imgur.com/gfdggsCl.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/L5sRX49l.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/d1Idtyjl.jpeg

[Fast Eddie WRC]

That's pretty much what I said...


What Fourmaux said wasn't that bad as it wasn't done in a nasty way, or cursing at someone.




I'm also sure than most foreigners don't appreciate the strength of certain English swear words, not having grown up in the culture and learned the true taboo of them used in the wrong context

[TypeR]

If this ,,fight'' continues then stage end reporters can stay home during rally Kenya.. :D

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/fia-reiterates-its-stance-on-misconduct-guidelines/

[deephouse]

So we can expect completely new lineups next year... because we already know Benny is not known for not being revengeful 🤣

[macebig]

It was long time crews started throwing their weight around. WRC is on the rocks, and FIA spends their time policing the broadcasts. What's more disappointing is that MBS, Reid and the rest were considered "rally people" that knew the issues first hand and had solutions...

[PLuto]

It was long time crews started throwing their weight around. WRC is on the rocks, and FIA spends their time policing the broadcasts. What's more disappointing is that MBS, Reid and the rest were considered "rally people" that knew the issues first hand and had solutions...

I must say I am disappointed by lot of people who were drivers/codrivers, but when they got the function, they have completely changed. Of course not everybody, but lot of them...

[satnav]

This whole saga about using swear words started from an episode at an F1 press conference and the FIA in their wisdom just tarred everyone the same as they haven't an ounce of common sense.

Here's what Becs has to say about it;

https://x.com/KrunchingGears/status/1893992283483062483

[Rallyest]

This whole saga about using swear words started from an episode at an F1 press conference and the FIA in their wisdom just tarred everyone the same as they haven't an ounce of common sense.

Here's what Becs has to say about it;

https://x.com/KrunchingGears/status/1893992283483062483


100% right and agree with Becs , and seeing the fia answer, based on atleast that dirtfish article we will have a pretty boring kenya drivers comment wise.

[spark13]

100% right and agree with Becs , and seeing the fia answer, based on atleast that dirtfish article we will have a pretty boring kenya drivers comment wise.
It would be cool if all the drivers answered for all the questions during kenia with the same frase, something like "All is absolutely f....antastic". And by the end of a rally, someone, for example Fourmaux, answering for a Becks question on why everyone repeating the same frase, he would answer something like "Tell Ben - 4 word's are enough".

[Rallyper]

I think drivers are free to say whatever they want under the circumstances we talk about (the finish line of the stages). And WHAT they say tells a lot of their personalities. For good or for bad...

[Us44]

Yes, and more than once =) Never in an interview, though.

You can hear him swearing, in the second episode of More than Machine, at the moment where we see the subtitle “Adrien speaks in French”:

https://youtu.be/vrCgndRUhV4?si=G82l_XOZLF4PvOYz&t=1177

It's not Adrien and it is not French at all =) Made a lot of fun for Russian fans.

Need to save this video before some FIA snowflake takes this down :D Had a good laugh :D

[skarderud]

Its quite obvious that the drivers wont answer any question the next rallies.
Sad for the broadcast, but its necessary.

Its lots of problems in wrc, rhis is not one of them. Of course, its different levels, but "i f@cked up" is not swearing in my opinion.
But, i'm not a religios d@rk eighter.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[focus206]

Its lots of problems in wrc, rhis is not one of them. Of course, its different levels, but "i f@cked up" is not swearing in my opinion.
But, i'm not a religios d@rk eighter.


The correlation between religious people and not swearing is not present in every country. I actually thought it was true only in anglosaxon countries, but I guess not. Here in Italy there's no such thing as "Christians don't swear"

[Mary Mary]

It's not about religion, it's about being gentlemanly and having respect. This is not being demonstrated as understood by many, perhaps because of cultures.

To me, at my age and the way I was brought up, being told to "grow up" or "accept it" is like hearing that the drivers could carry knives and stab the stage end reporters, or run them over like it's a Christmas market - because these are cultural shifts accepted by Europeans these days. No, no, no.

[Mary Mary]

Its quite obvious that the drivers wont answer any question the next rallies.
Sad for the broadcast, but its necessary.

Its lots of problems in wrc, rhis is not one of them. Of course, its different levels, but "i f@cked up" is not swearing in my opinion.
But, i'm not a religios d@rk eighter.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

I'm interested to know why you self-censored the not-swearing.

[TypeR]

It's not about religion, it's about being gentlemanly and having respect. This is not being demonstrated as understood by many, perhaps because of cultures.

To me, at my age and the way I was brought up, being told to "grow up" or "accept it" is like hearing that the drivers could carry knives and stab the stage end reporters, or run them over like it's a Christmas market - because these are cultural shifts accepted by Europeans these days. No, no, no.
what a frenchfries are you talking about..

[Mary Mary]

what a frenchfries are you talking about..

Exactly.

[TypeR]

Exactly!
Hello Ben!

[skarderud]

I'm interested to know why you self-censored the not-swearing.I thought dork was a swearing.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[skarderud]

It's not about religion, it's about being gentlemanly and having respect. This is not being demonstrated as understood by many, perhaps because of cultures.

To me, at my age and the way I was brought up, being told to "grow up" or "accept it" is like hearing that the drivers could carry knives and stab the stage end reporters, or run them over like it's a Christmas market - because these are cultural shifts accepted by Europeans these days. No, no, no.What are you taking about? Please dont drag shit-politics in here.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[skarderud]

The correlation between religious people and not swearing is not present in every country. I actually thought it was true only in anglosaxon countries, but I guess not. Here in Italy there's no such thing as "Christians don't swear"Yes, in norway the same, even my familiy-friend that are a priest swearing.

Its different types of religious people, normal people with a healty wiew on life, and the other type that tries to push theire wiews and religion on us others.

Personaly i'm not religios, but the swearing-gate has a touch of the later over it.

Of course, un-sivilized swearing is unnecessery in every setting, but some colourful language in normal manner is a part of both the sport and normal peoples life.




Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

[Mary Mary]

What are you taking about? Please dont drag shit-politics in here.

Sent fra min SM-S901B via Tapatalk

Irritated? Shocked? That was my intention. If you thought that was an invitation to debate politics it's not that you don't understand my point, it's that you didn't understand my post.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Children viewing must also be an aspect of the issue. You dont want your kids to think casually saying "I f**** up", is normal. In the circumstances, talking about something that happened an hour earlier, Fourmaux should've just said I messed up.

[satnav]

Maybe not linked to this conversation completely but its here anyway;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13317596/fia-british-duo-banned-from-world-motorsport-council-meeting-amid-nda-dispute-with-president-mohammed-ben-sulayem?fbclid=IwY2xjawIsgZRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfOBs WSTXl9NMnZN1OcTFhBKxdi3oVS0mQiznxetPl0sXqjxPnODqbm iHw_aem_mCzZ80P0i92zxYfPVI5smA

[Franky]

Children viewing must also be an aspect of the issue. You dont want your kids to think casually saying "I f**** up", is normal. In the circumstances, talking about something that happened an hour earlier, Fourmaux should've just said I messed up.

Are you saying that youth did not swear like it's nothing abnormal in the past?

[Rallyper]

Are you saying that youth did not swear like it's nothing abnormal in the past?

Well, children do like their parents and idols do. They have big ears and learn from them. Also swearing. "I messed up" should´ve been much better to speak or phrase.

[becher]

It's not about religion, it's about being gentlemanly and having respect. This is not being demonstrated as understood by many, perhaps because of cultures.

To me, at my age and the way I was brought up, being told to "grow up" or "accept it" is like hearing that the drivers could carry knives and stab the stage end reporters, or run them over like it's a Christmas market - because these are cultural shifts accepted by Europeans these days. No, no, no.

The only cultural shifts europeans are currently accepting is the dismantlement of the social state and time travel to the 1930s.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Further comments here please...

[Rallyper]

I´m against swearing, however when the world around you like musicians, sportsmen using the f-word, you can´t punish like FIA done. It´s not proportional to the circumstances.

FIA should apologize and forget all they messed up.

[saco0o]

FIA is mastering the "revert their stupid ideas", like the electric WTCC series, hybrids and weird point systems in WRC, full electric and weird qualifying formats in WorldRX, taking over Extreme just to kinda kill it fwith that Hydrogen idea...
This ban on "swearing words" gotta be the next, for sure.

[deephouse]

FIA = Fuc***g Idiots Association ��

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Top rally driver’s protest ‘has promoted Welsh language worldwide’... :D

https://nation.cymru/news/top-rally-drivers-protest-has-promoted-welsh-language-worldwide/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

The FIA are meeting with the Driver's this week:

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/wrc-drivers-stage-end-silence-spoke-volumes-but-what-happens-now-/10706968/

[TypeR]

fia and drivers came to some sort of agreement..

https://www.rallit.fi/tulihan-se-sielta-rallin-mm-sarjassa-merkittava-sopimus-erinomainen-edistysaskel-lajillemme

- swear words uttered in interviews given after special tests will no longer be punishable if they are not intended to offend anyone.

- A similar, more flexible approach is also used for team radio communications and for driver and co-driver communication during special stages

- Controlled areas include, for example, the media areas arranged before maintenance breaks, where drivers give interviews to journalists.

It is also a good idea to keep swear words to a minimum in other press conferences

[saco0o]

Top rally driver’s protest ‘has promoted Welsh language worldwide’... :D

https://nation.cymru/news/top-rally-drivers-protest-has-promoted-welsh-language-worldwide/

hahahaha i never knew wales had its own language! i found it very interesting, gotta be honest.
even went on checking with an irish mate that also speaks a 'weird' (sorry haha) local language. i found these stuff so fascinating. idk why
HOWEVER.... “It’s been estimated that a billion motorsports fans round the world tune into Safari Rally Kenya"

YEAH, sure. A BILLION. Probably 300 million of these are the regular world rallycross viewers haha according to FIA trying to selling the championship rights.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/fia-and-wrc-drivers-reach-solution-to-swearing-fine-dispute/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7qPVsa9X80Q3-IbhmD5wrfVmzWi7-TSdHYcgYUn3TiVN0lIyDS_i696s-Guw_aem__-EqJJHBTNHb_0p-AaG5Vw