dpa
Paris
Formula One drivers face harsher penalties such as points deductions, heavy fines and even bans for misbehaviour this season.New guidelines for race stewards have been issued by the governing FIA, with drivers who cause damage to the FIA through verbal abuse - for example - risking severe sanctions.
World champion Max Verstappen had to do community service for using a swear word in an official press conference last season and the FIA is trying to rein him in after a series of other spats.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants to reduce swearing in F1 generally, but drivers feel the governing body has overreached - a reaction which is only going to intensify with the new guidelines.
They are listed in Appendix B of the International Sporting Code and apply to all FIA racing series. However, penalties for Formula One drivers are multiplied by a factor of four.
This means that a driver from the premier class of motorsport has to pay 40,000 euros ($41,600) for one of the offences listed, 80,000 euros for the second offence and 120,000 euros for the third - as well as a one-month ban and a points deduction.
