Yuki Tsunoda has been fined €40,000 (£33,900), half of which has been suspended, for using an ableist slur on his radio during qualifying.
The RB driver exclaimed in frustration at drivers queueing in front of him in the pit lane during Q1. “The guys are fucking retarded,” Tsunoda told his race engineer Mattia Spini, who replied: “Yuki no worries, don’t worry, plenty of time.”The stewards ruled Tsunoda breached of article 12.2.1 (k) of the International Sporting Code, which forbids “any misconduct”. They accepted the Japanese driver’s explanation that he did not fully understand the implications of the English word he used.
“During the hearing the driver was very apologetic and explained that because English is not his first language he was unaware until after the session what the meaning of the words used is in the English language,” they noted. “He said that he was horrified when he learned this. He contended that his understanding of the words was different, but acknowledged that this should not be considered as an excuse for what he did.
“The stewards appreciate the honesty of the driver, but reinforce the fact the words used are offensive and wholly inappropriate. To have used such words over a platform that is available to the public amounted to misconduct as defined in article 20 of the International Sporting Code. Considering the circumstances, the stewards determine that a severe fine is required, but also take into account the genuine remorse of the driver and his offer to issue a public apology and for these reasons decide to suspend part of the fine imposed.”
While Tsunoda must pay €20,000 immediately, a further €20,000 is suspended for the rest of the season “on condition that no infringement of a similar nature occurs.”
Tsunoda issued an apology for his remarks on social media. “I wanted to say big apologies what I said in the radio today,” he stated. “Obviously I didn’t use it intentionally and was completely misunderstanding from myself that exact meaning of it.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“I now have better understanding for what the word means and am very apologetic for what I said. This type of language has no place and is not tolerated and for that I am sorry.”
Max Verstappen used the same word, and other similar terms, on his radio after he collided with Lance Stroll during practice for the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix.
However the FIA has begun to take a stronger line on comments made by drivers and others in F1 since. Sergio Perez was given a formal warning for describing the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stewards as “a joke” on his radio last year.
Others have been censured over their language. The FIA gave formal warnings to Toto Wolff and Frederic Vasseur for swearing during a press conference in Las Vegas last year. However Charles Leclerc’s use of the same word in a press conference after the Monaco Grand Prix this year did not attract the stewards’ attention.
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a daily email with all our latest stories - and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2024 Austrian Grand Prix
- Austrian GP clash will have taught Norris how to race Verstappen – Ricciardo
- Verstappen was “lucky” tyre damage didn’t force him to retire like Norris
- Pirelli introducing new C6 tyre to improve racing on street tracks next year
- Norris admits ‘overreacting’ but queries why Verstappen avoided track limits penalty
- Norris and Verstappen’s Austrian GP collision “blown out of proportion” – rivals
Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
29th June 2024, 19:11
We live in a clown world. Toto Wolff said about former Formula 1 Race Director Michael Masi in an interview:
And yet there was no investigation about his ableist language or toxic attitude, which apparently FIA is fighting against. What a joke it is.
Talby (@maichael)
30th June 2024, 11:57
@armchairexpert ‘Idiot’ isn’t an ableist word. The connotation is quite different from ‘retard’. If it they are the same, what about people who use the word ‘foolish’?
MichaelN
29th June 2024, 19:31
I was thinking of this when Pérez had his moan about Ocon yesterday. The FIA said they would take a more active approach on this kind of abuse, especially in series that lead their respective categories (good examples and all that).
Seems doubtful something will come of this, especially given last weekend’s leniency to outright bumping into others in a fit of rage. But still, a warning should make it clear that a minimal level of self-control is expected in the premier racing series in the world.
MXMXD (@mxmxd)
29th June 2024, 20:24
Why would stewards have jurisdiction on things that happen off-track?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
29th June 2024, 21:25
@mxmxd It’s the same as the Vasseur/Wolff case mentioned above and, for that matter, them looking into Verstappen’s absence from the FIA press conference on Thursday.
Osnola
30th June 2024, 15:46
He was not absent but 15 minutes to late.
Resulted in a official fia stewards notification
John Fish
29th June 2024, 20:31
It’s ridiculous. We all know what he meant, it’s part of the language, it wasn’t directed at someone with a cognitive impairment so where’s the harm? The world is actually going mad – am I still allowed to say that?
rprp
29th June 2024, 20:46
Because it’s using a word to describe a mental disability as a generic slur.
It’s the same thing as kids using the word “gay” as a generic slur.
It should be called out. It’s not wokeness gone mad, it’s just wrong.
grat
29th June 2024, 23:43
So if I say the timing on an engine needs to be retarded, I’m insulting developmentally challenged people?
Granted, that’s not how Tsunoda used it, but it IS a valid use of the word.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
30th June 2024, 11:29
No, because the verb and noun forms of the word are different.
SteveP
30th June 2024, 10:05
If the kids (and others) actually knew the origin of G. A. Y. it might stretch their small minds somewhat.
Like “woke” it doesn’t mean what they think it means.
It’s all pretty xenophobic.
notagrumpyfan
30th June 2024, 10:45
I wouldn’t police words at all, especially as most have various meanings (incl. gay)
And for non native speakers it’s even more difficult to pick the politically correct words.
Just call out people about the way (rather than he exact words) they talk about others. It might not be as ‘black and white’ as many want to see it, but the real evil is in the intent, not the exact words.
Hosford90
29th June 2024, 21:20
Lol. I always love it when you people start trying to sound like the voice of reason and I think ‘maybe this one won’t be a monumental conservative idiot who will play the victim and have a big entitled whinge about wokeness like every one of you snowflakes does’…and then that last line always happens.
“The world is going mad…am I still allowed to say that?”
Yes. You can say it. You just said it. You’re not a victim. You’re not cancelled. You’re not ANY of the groups that this stuff actually matters towards and who get to have a say.
Feel bullied and troubled and traumatised and like you can’t say anything without being criticised and it’s made you question if you can open your mouth again? Maybe you should question what your values are then if they all offend people…rightly.
You can say what you want. People are also as allowed to criticise what you say. Especially when you’re invariably wrong. That’s how this works.
But no, ‘free speech’ right…but just for you and to whinge and be a bigot, not for anyone who dare actually express their free speech to call out that behaviour or advocate for the right thing!
Hosford90
29th June 2024, 21:21
Cheers for outing that its ‘part of your language’ though. Colour me surprised.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
29th June 2024, 21:34
The harm lies in implying that people with disabilities are intellectually inferior.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
29th June 2024, 21:57
@keithcollantine Thank you, this is the TL;DR version of what I was trying to say :)
Coventry Climax
30th June 2024, 0:15
I’m not in favor of the use of any words designating people of any group as inferior by default, period.
For this word though, it’s not implied: It is exactly what the word means: Intellectually behind, under-developped.
Actually, the word ‘stupid’ means exactly the same. Are we gonna prohibit that too?
Won’t be long I guess, as it would appear that word – or the former- applies to a majority of voters in France, US, Italy, Netherlands and a good many other countries.
Ludewig
30th June 2024, 1:05
Some of us prefer the truth over lies.
Tristan
30th June 2024, 4:49
Stupid doesn’t have the same connotation. We can all be stupid sometimes, or at least I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in the world who hasn’t made some stupid mistakes. But this other word being used especially in the context Tsunoda did is no laughing matter.
As he said though he was apologetic and unaware that it was a word used to belittle the disabled. I can’t believe you’re defending its use.
notagrumpyfan
30th June 2024, 10:48
Many non native speakers might not be aware of that. Tsunoda saying he was ‘unaware’ proofs that point.
Nick T.
30th June 2024, 10:47
Indeed. While I don’t endorse the use of the word, this era of language policing is a great way to keep the masses distracted from the real issues of our day while also creating additional conflict that benefits nobody.
Mog
30th June 2024, 10:57
Yep.
melanos
30th June 2024, 10:53
Millions are wrong, but You, Oh Wise One, know better.
Being Superior must feel good aplenty.
Nick T.
30th June 2024, 11:09
Millions vote for Trump, think the world is flat and stand in the rain to get an autograph from celebrties. I wouldn’t use what the masses do or don’t believe as evidence of anything meaningful.
Coventry Climax
30th June 2024, 12:26
That, Nick T. -and I agree with you-, is the human race’s most generic defect of all: If everyone does it and says it, it must be worthwile and true.
To those of that belief or opinion -yes; ‘belief’ or ‘opinion'(!)- :
Now look again at those that are perceived as heroes, innovators and great minds.
While daring to think outside the box won’t make you a hero by default, thinking inside the box makes certain you’ll never ever be considered to be one.
And the relevance of it, is that the FiA nowadays mandates anyone involved, from engineer to spokesman, to teamowner, to driver, remains tightly within the limits of their box of thoughts.
melanos
30th June 2024, 10:48
Ok, let’s pretend nobody is intellectually inferior. Not even people with severe neurological diseases. And, why not, let them drive, and pilot passenger planes. Good luck with that.
Dusty
30th June 2024, 11:30
I get it now! People diagnosed with the condition that some describe used the R word can feel offended when someone implies they belong to the same intellectual group as the WL words driver.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
29th June 2024, 21:55
It’s considered dated with good reason.
Specifically, there was a time, a long time ago (first recorded use 1426) when the r-slur wasn’t a slur at all*, but a neutral reference to people with developmental conditions in general. In the 19th century, this changed to specifically referencing people who scored low on IQ tests (or who were perceived to be people who would score low in an IQ test if they ever took one). However, in the UK and USA, the negative element started to predominate during the 1960s, primarily because it started getting used as a general insult instead of a specific, functional reference, and the word accumulating the connotations of the insult. The term became even more deprecated in the late 1990s and 2000s due to the rise of self-advocacy for the people in the communities most likely to have the term directed at them (both in the medical and insulting sense, for reasons too lengthy to explain in this post).
* – Saying one is a time-traveller from the days of Shōkō, Sigismund or Henry VI is not likely to be considered a defence against a charge of bad language in the FIA’s eyes either, and the stewards would need to be wished good luck in explaining a currency that didn’t exist in 1426.
Note that in some languages, such as French and Catalan, the term didn’t develop the slur element except in the specific context of referring to someone’s intelligence, which may explain why Yuki was unaware of the situation in English.
(“The world is going mad” is at this point deprecated in certain circles but currently only considered censorable talk in a relatively small number of circles. The community to whom “mad” is directed is split over whether it’s a neutral, insulting or reclaimable-and-potentially-positive word).
Oople ZERO
29th June 2024, 22:31
@ John FishCancel
Sheer ignorance.
There’s nothing wrong with doing better. With being better.
You should try it, rather than defaulting to the “back in my day” narrative.
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
30th June 2024, 1:03
While I disagree with this point, could they not just censor the radio transmission so it’s not broadcast and have a quiet word to him later? I feel kinda sorry for Yuki cause he’d hear it all the time from native speakers and never think anything of it.
Shimks (@shimks)
30th June 2024, 8:49
It’s an awful word. How can that not be obvious, regardless of whom it’s thrown at.
Coventry Climax
30th June 2024, 12:33
What’s this? Along the lines of “Thou shalt not swear”? Occasionally serves a perfectly legitimate purpose as far as I’m concerned.
I don’t like the word ‘brown’. Has a very secretial context to it. Let’s prohibit the use of it.
Patrick (@anunaki)
29th June 2024, 20:57
Ridiculous to punish a driver over communication with his engineer. Even more so because it’s not his native language.
Hosford90
29th June 2024, 21:25
Yes and no. Communication with the engineer in a live session over the radio is all part of the sporting event. Like the article says, there’s precedent. This is fair enough in that context.
But yeah it’s not his native language. He obviously isn’t meaning anything by it and have no ill feeling towards Yuki. It’s a long term figure of speech that slipped out in the heat of the moment. Everyone reasonable gets it. He’s not going to be suspended for the rest of time lol. But everyone reasonable also understands contextually why it’s important as a little reminder to send a little message.
Coventry Climax
30th June 2024, 0:23
It’s not Yuki’s -or any driver’s- choice to have their radio traffic public and broadcast.
Actually, they could have just beeped it out, but decided to broadcast it, and then punish Yuki for it?
Kringle
30th June 2024, 1:05
Wholeheartedly agree. Those who chose to broadcast the language should receive a $40,000 fine as they understood the word and decided to actively cause offence and upset.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 10:13
They’re not mutually exclusive. Yuki chose to use the language, and it’s correct that he is punished for it. Ignorance is not an excuse.
stefano (@alfa145)
30th June 2024, 2:17
still, it’s not a public interview. it’s a radio message that has the sole function of letting pit and driver communicating. it being broadcast is for “show” purposes. but it’s not intended for the public.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 10:12
Naive in the extreme. So I can call you any ableist, racist or homophobic slur I like provided it’s not intended for public broadcast? 99% of conversations in the world are not meant for public consumption, there are still laws to prevent offensive language.
MichaelN
29th June 2024, 21:55
Every driver knows said communication is not private and is part of the entertainment product. F1 has a dedicated clip of team radio highlights each and every race. Tsunoda also isn’t calling Horner and Marko these words, so he knows full well that it’s meant as a demeaning insult. He’s a proper adult who knows what he’s doing.
Anyway, they can do a RBR-wide debrief here; Pérez insulted Ocon yesterday, but he used a word that passed the FIA test. Lesson learned for Tsunoda.
Jere (@jerejj)
30th June 2024, 5:34
@anunaki English isn’t the native language for most current full-time drivers.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th June 2024, 21:54
I guess it’s believable, in the online game I play there’s people using that “r word” constantly and I’m guessing it’s meant to criticise mistakes or subpar play by other people, not to actually say those people have mental disabilities, so I can see how a japanese driver could make this mistake as well, and for once I agree with the reasoning of the stewards, that a fine is issued anyway but will be half the amount it’d have been otherwise if he doesn’t repeat the offense.
Nick T.
29th June 2024, 22:05
Yes. There are tons of times I’ve come across Japanese people unfamiliar with the precise meaning of the word they’re using. Source: I’ve spent months at a time in Japan.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
30th June 2024, 7:47
Or even mishearing a word like oh I don’t know someone calling out a name like Pancho! yet hearing it as kancho.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
29th June 2024, 22:04
I’m not Yuki’s biggest fan but I’m really proud of him here. He’s taken total ownership, recognised why it is wrong and has explained the misunderstanding. Humans make errors, how they react to them is the test of their character.
Red Bull had a very disappointing incident with Juri VIPs, with Lawson on the stream, a couple of years ago and I’m glad to see that there is no desire to sweep this under the rug the way some commentators to this article are.
It’s a good look for the sport to call it out but even better that the driver acknowledges the issue and brings it to the attention of those less compassionate.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
30th June 2024, 7:42
If Yuki studied, prepared for sat and passed the IELTS professional level and passed I would agree with the penalty.
The IELTS test assesses Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Whether you’re applying for university, for a visa, or to a professional association.
If as at quick glance at his schooling it seems he would have needed to join an English Speaking Society like a break time club to learn some basics, where perhaps all were compounding their same errors.
His speech to me seems more like someone said “The quickest way to learn English is watch TV, streams,music,games , social media. etc.”
All the “bad stuff” including fn every second word is there, and from children running through society as a w
hole.
People (hopefully) learn from mistakes.
Yuki you can’t say that because it means….
It’s a minefield negotiating acceptable slang , even abbreviations.
Japanese don’t even have words for what are common terms in English.
I know nothing but it seems he is repeating words/things he has heard from dubious sources and trying them out in a sentence.
If he knows what he has said then punish him.
If not educate him.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 10:17
Ignorance is not an excuse. I understand his confusion, but it doesn’t absolve him of his responsibility.
I agree the way drivers learn the language is problematic, but I think that’s the way most young folk learn English these days. It’s incumbent on the native speakers to call it out and explain why it’s wrong when they see it.
Yuki made a mistake and he admits to it, hopefully it is a turning point in his temperament too. I’ve noticed his English this season has improved 10 fold from when he came into the sport.
Nick T.
30th June 2024, 10:51
It is though. If he genuinely thought the word just another of the endless synonyms for “stupid,” there’s literally nothing he did wrong. It’s OK to fine him just for appearances though and prevent some ultra sensitive group from trying to capitalize on an innocent mistake to smear F1.
Nick T.
30th June 2024, 10:54
€40,000 seems excessive though. He’s not Max, Alonso or Lewis where they have so much money it doesn’t even matter when they’re fined. Even the reduced penalty he actually has to pay seems a bit much.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 11:03
No, I don’t accept that. People need to be responsible for their actions.
If I use a derogatory term for a black person or a homosexual, I can’t turn around and say, “I thought it was synonymous”.
Let’s be clear, Yuki has been informed of his error and totally owns the mistake – it’s wrong for native speakers to say what he said was acceptable. Otherwise, words become meaningless. He should apologise, which he has, and a governing body should fine him for it, which they have. The sum of the fine is academic, it’s a morality issue.
Nick T.
30th June 2024, 11:15
Are you basing this on the belief that he did know its meaning? Otherwise, your argument is no different than saying a child that burns his hand on a stove because he didn’t know it’s hot and dangerous should be disciplined for not having been warned the stove is dangerous. If you said a racial epithet and truly thought it meant something totally different, you wouldn’t be deserving of ostracism or punishment either. It’s quite literally no different than saying “the sky” when referring to the ocean because you thought that was the word for the ocean. Just because the mistake in that case isn’t likely to offend someone makes absolutely no difference.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 11:30
It makes an enormous difference, you must see that. You’re literally arguing that people shouldn’t be educated, as they can can absolve themselves of responsibility by saying “I don’t know”. He’s not a child the comparison is absurd.
We have words which are offensive to people, that upset people and that influence people which should not be used in modern parlance. These words have consequences. There are millions of examples of unintended consequences – you don’t get away with it by saying, ” it’s not my intention”.
I think Yuki made an innocent mistake – therein lies the issue, he’s not been told that that word is off limits. We need examples like this to highlight why it is wrong to say it.
You must agree that using the word was horrible and has no place in our sport?
Nick T.
30th June 2024, 11:43
You’re implying he knew it referred to mentally handicapped people and wasn’t aware of its taboo and used it. That was my question. Otherwise, the idea of people being able to just say “I didn’t know” has no relevance.” So, yes, if he knew, then I agree. If he did not know, then I couldn’t disagree more.
And, once again, the issue I’ve kept specifically stating isn’t whether it shouldn’t be used as he used it (it shouldn’t), it is about the idea that punishing someone for a genuinely innocent misuse of a word, rather than pretending they didn’t know, is an injustice itself and rather than helping make society more tolerant is likely to create a backlash of people who intentionally use offensive language just to demonstrate their opposition to that approach.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 12:02
I’m not implying he didn’t know, I think his mistake was genuine. What I’m saying is no-one has carte blanche to use offensive terms under a veil of ignorance. i understand your rationale, and I think you’re coming from a place of good intentions, but my opinion is that if we don’t call out these things then no progress is made. I can see other posters above for example stating that he can say what he likes – I can’t accept that.
Language must have standards and it must be objective. We can’t assess every family and ask “is English your first or second language?”, “what qualifications in English do you have?” Etc. It has to be a case of, if you step over the line, there is consequence. Ultimately, that will be harsh on some instances – but it’ll also serve as an example for future reference.
notagrumpyfan
30th June 2024, 11:01
Calling out somebody who was unaware doesn’t need to come with a 40k penalty. I doubt that is considered good parenting, but more showing off to others how good/tough/etc. you are as a ‘parent’.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 11:06
Perhaps, but the sum is relatively meaningless here. Max got a £25k fine for touching a rear wing once, Yuki making a derogatory comment should be penalised more harshly. It’s not about the punishment, it’s about highlighting the issue and ensuring that there is accountability.
Nick T.
30th June 2024, 11:22
You’ve just demonstrated you’re advocating exactly for what grumpy called a demonstration of good parenting rather than trying to be good a parent. Fining someone harshly because of an innocent mistake to “highlight the issue” and ensure people are accountable for, what, not speaking English well enough to avoid unintentionally offending someone possibly? I don’t see any logic, but I can tell we’re going to have to agree to disagree.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 11:35
Nick, it’s a broken rule in a legal system. If a rule is broken, an arbitrary fine is imposed. That’s the way things work, we shouldn’t distract from the issue by discussing the fine without calling out – for non native speakers who may be reading these comments – why it is wrong to use that word in the first instance.
Nick T.
30th June 2024, 11:53
I was literally going to bring up the comparison you’re trying to use. If Yuki violated a traffic law because he didn’t know it, he deserves a penalty because it is a driver’s responsibility to know the rules. There is no law against words or requirement to have x level of fluency before speaking English. If you’re talking about F1’s own rules, which are not laws, I already said I think it’s OK to fine him, but that I the fine seemed excessive, especially when drivers are often fined less for using their cars as battering rams. Anyway, I concede. Next time I see someone misuse an offensive word unintentionally I will throttle them just for you. That’ll learn ‘em.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 12:06
It’s not about using violence or excessive punishment to teach lessons. If I heard that word being used in my workplace I’d expect those in earshot to have a quiet word – that is sufficient. But when it’s on a public stage, with an audience of millions, there has to be an example made.
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
30th June 2024, 1:51
Good lord people are so sensitive these days. Grow a pair and stop being so easily offended. He didn’t direct it at anyone actually mentally handicapped.
Jere (@jerejj)
30th June 2024, 5:35
The R-word is quite widely used, so he should’ve already been aware beforehand & most current full-time drivers aren’t native speakers.
This particular radio comm didn’t get broadcasted, though, & perhaps he should start swearing or complaining in his native language instead, as FIA at least couldn’t tell which words were bad, albeit I still could to an extent.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
30th June 2024, 11:27
@jerejj To be clear, F1 did broadcast the word live, but not on the world feed. Otherwise it wouldn’t have been heard outside his team.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
30th June 2024, 11:57
That would be very difficult.
John Cousins (@drone)
30th June 2024, 6:01
Wow. F1 broadcast it? Sorry I missed it. I sincerely hope that none of F1 management watch Rocketpoweredmohawk. They’d probably try to have his entire catalogue deleted. I’m surprised Stroll Snr hasn’t put a price on his head actually. If it’s that offensive why didn’t they bleep it? Or was it not broadcast? I wonder where they draw the line?
Jere (@jerejj)
30th June 2024, 7:49
His radio comm wasn’t broadcasted.
Damon (@damon)
30th June 2024, 9:48
Policing adult men for langauge use is in XXI century PATHETIC. That approach stems from television conventions, which are antiquated today whilst television no longer dictates standards for anything.
The overwhelmingly most popular information medium is the Internet, where free ways of expression are the standard.
FIA and F1 should stop with that moral dictatorship.
David BR (@david-br)
30th June 2024, 11:14
I agree with the reprimand and it’s great Tsunoda owned it.
I’m just not sure about the fine, it kind of seems obscene in its own way, €40,000 is almost double the average European (EU) wage. For one word? It’s kind of shocking how much money floats around Formula 1 when it needs this kind of amount to not feel negligible. Where does this money go? A day or two of community outreach work would be preferable.
David BR (@david-br)
30th June 2024, 11:15
—for a year.
Nick T.
30th June 2024, 11:33
A great example of the truly horrible and critical issues that are distracted from via sideshows like the culture wars that the over policing of words have created. In the US, there are two men whose combined wealth is more than that of the roughly 175 million people that make up the bottom 50% of Americans. Yet I hear thousands of times more about language faux pas than about the truly offensive and obscene wealth gap that exists in both the West and “global South.”
MichaelN
30th June 2024, 14:05
The FIA is a pretty big operation, and spends about 150 million a year.
David BR (@david-br)
30th June 2024, 15:33
I was implying they should give it to a group representing the people offended by the remark. It seems wrong for FIA or the sport to financially benefit from insults.
MarkWebber (@markwebber)
30th June 2024, 17:47
Firstly, I find ridiculous that FIA police what drivers say to their team. The drivers are physically and mentally pushed to the limit, they can’t also be expected to follow TV guidelines. Imagine if FIFA mic’d all the players and made rules on how to communicate, it’s simply absurd.
If he had called them blind, he would also be implying that people with disabilities are inferior. Should there also be a punishment? If the FIA is committed to being the police of good behavior it should at least not do so in such an arbitrary way and take into account the intention and the context.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
30th June 2024, 21:39
Why is it ridiculous?
Plenty of jobs are high pressure it doesn’t give anyone the right to say anything without consequence.
The FIFA link is tenuous – if someone else does wrong does that make it acceptable for you?
There is a clear and obvious difference between a diagnosis and a slur.
Language is objective, ignorance is not an excuse. How can one assess intention?