The issue Toto Wolff supports Mohammed Ben Sulayem on amid conflict

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff doesn't usually see eye-to-eye with FIAꦍ president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Toto Wolff
Toto Wolff

Mercedes F1 boss Toꦍto Wolff has revealed a rare issue he agrees with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sℱulayem on.

Wolff has publicly admitted that he disagrees with a nuꦍm𝔍ber of Ben Sulayem’s policies throughout his controversial tenure as president of F1’s governing body.

F1 drivers have criticised Ben Sulayem’s recent clampdown on foul language, with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen having to perform “some work of public interest” for the FIA as punishment for the use of an expletive during a press conference in 🍸Singapore.

But this is a rare topic that Wolff does see eye-to-eye with the FIA presi🅺dent on.

“I have a seven-year-old that go-ka♔rts and that watches everything. It is the first time, a few months ago, that he said, ‘what the f**k’, and I said ‘wh🌱ere did you hear that from?’ He said from the drivers,” Wolff told media including at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“So I have my conflicts with Mohamꦡmed but in that instance the drivers, all of the drivꦗers, are role models. They are on air and they are entitled, and they are empowered.

“I disagree with many of the other things that he [Ben Sulayem] came up with, but on that one I think if you translate ‘f**k’ into your own language or my language,🦋 it is pretty rude. I would never say that on the radio.

“George [Russell] and I, and Lewis [Hamilton] had this conversatio🌺n and they know I don’t like it. So I am perfectly fine that we are really able to limit that.

“There are a handful of drivers, some native, some not, that come out with the things and, for me I, would be happy to sanction that even more☂. That’s just my opinion.”

Ben Sulayem’s fight to ‘clean’ F1

Asked if he felt the swearing clampdown was a fight worthღ having, Ben Sulayem r🌞ecently told Motorsport: “Fight? For cleaning the sport, yes.

“But🌳 did I write these rules about swearing? Was I the one♚ who implemented and policed it? I ask you because it's the stewards. It's not me. It's the stewards. So you go and ask them, why is that?

“We are sending a message to the youngsters at any age wi𓃲th that. And, excuse me, commercials, movies, they are rated whatever.

“Do we have to say the rude words? Honestly. Did say it? Did Mohammed Ali say it? He said he was a big mouth. But did he ever say it [a rude word]? Did Pelღe say it?

“We are in a very unique sport and we have to protect it from the bജad words. Bad words that I will always disagree with.”

Speaking at the FIA’s prize-giving gala in Rwanda, Ben Sulayem praised Verstappen’s approach to 𝓰carrying out his comm♎unity service prior to receiving his world championship trophy.

"[Max] really fulfilled his promise,” Ben Sulayem said. "This is the community servic𒁏e we need every single driver🐷, champion, to do if we want to grow.

“If we talk about diversity: this is the real div๊ersity. It was not about the car, mainly about the people there.

"I believe maybe in the future we won't have to have it𒈔 as▨ a penalty. It has to come as a gesture from the drivers and maybe I'll put it on the contract once they get their licence."

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