Gentlemen pilots, correct vocabulary required!
On the podium in Abu Dhabi, Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel created a mini-controversy by using inappropriate language during the interview conducted by David Coulthard and broadcast, among others, on BBC One. As a result, the drivers were reminded by the FIA to pay more attention to their language in front of the media.
This season, Formula 1 decided to innovate by introducing driver interviews directly on the podium – even before the formal FIA press conference takes place. Conducted by Niki Lauda, Jean Alesi, or even, in Abu Dhabi, by David Coulthard, this live interview seemingly showed its limits during the last race when Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel, the winner and third place finisher of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix respectively, spoke in colorful terms to the former McLaren and Red Bull driver.
Thus, the Finn made a comment directly addressed to the media: “Last time guys, you annoyed me because I didn’t smile enough.” A few moments later, Sebastian Vettel returned to his exclusion from qualifying: “Obviously, it was an opportunity to screw up, but it wasn’t the case, so I think we can be very proud today.”
If it is not unusual to see drivers – or team members – use coarse language without being exposed to the wrath of the FIA, the fact that these lapses in language took place during the official ceremony and in front of several million viewers prompted the FIA to react. Thus, in a letter written by Norman Howell, Director of Communications of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, at the request of Jean Todt and sent to all teams, the FIA reminds that it is the collective responsibility [of Formula 1] to ensure that drivers are aware that such language has no place during media events, not hesitating to raise the specter of possible sanctions in the event of repeated verbal offenses.
Following the interview on the podium, broadcast live on its channel, BBC One reported receiving 22 calls (21 complaints and one comment) regarding the offensive remarks. While confirming that there have been complaints from members of the public, people within the FIA, and even among the media, Norman Howell believes that such language lapses constitute bad publicity for the teams and their sponsors, the sport, and the FIA.
If the FIA’s communications director assures that he understands that, in the heat of action and emotions—both positive and negative—drivers may slip up in their language, he nevertheless believes that they are not the only ones questioned under these conditions: “I think of boxers, rugby players, and footballers who are regularly interviewed live on television after exhausting efforts. They manage to avoid any inappropriate language. Since it happened twice in the same weekend, I thought it was necessary to send a friendly note. We must remind drivers that they are professionals. If you are a race car driver at this level, you need to realize that part of your job is to speak to the media and do so in an acceptable manner,” says Norman Howell.
Directly after the race, Sebastian Vettel apologized on his website for his comments made on the podium: « I am deeply sorry for using the wrong words on the podium today and I apologize if they offended anyone who was watching. In the heat of the moment, I did not use the right words and I apologize for that. I will try to do better next time. » As for Kimi Räikkönen, journalists can probably expect to receive some nice t-shirts with his quote written on them.
