Carlos Sainz on swearing controversy: “It’s right to control ourselves in press conferences, but team radio…”. Carlos Sainz disagrees with the possible cancellation of live broadcasts of team radio communications.

Carlos Sainz’s 2025 Begins with Williams

Just days after McLaren’s surprise shakedown of the MCL39, Williams unveiled its FW47 at Silverstone as scheduled, followed by the final livery presentation in London at the O2 Arena alongside the other F1 teams. One of the team’s biggest changes this year is the arrival of a top-tier driver like Carlos Sainz, coming off four seasons with Ferrari.

Controlling Oneself in Press Conferences? It’s Possible

Along with his first impressions of the new car, Carlos Sainz also addressed other topics during the post-presentation media session, particularly the FIA’s stance on swearing. The governing body will impose stricter penalties for “misconduct” by drivers, potentially leading to suspensions from the championship or Super License point deductions in cases of repeated offenses. These measures have sparked criticism over the hardline approach taken by President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, though Carlos Sainz is at least partially in agreement: “My opinion is that F1 drivers should be controlled enough during press conferences and media appearances to avoid swearing,” he explained. “In a way, I support the idea that we should make an effort, when kids are watching us in press conferences or in front of the media, to maintain good behavior and a decent vocabulary. I don’t think it’s that hard. Do we need fines or control for this? I don’t know…”

Team Radio

However, Carlos Sainz strongly disagrees with the idea of canceling live broadcasts of team radio communications: “At the same time, I think it’s too much when it comes to radio communication, the adrenaline, and the pressure we experience in the car,” he added. “For me, this is a fundamental part of the sport, where you guys get to see real emotion, real pressure, and sometimes, unfortunately, the raw vocabulary of a racing driver.”

Carlos Sainz believes team radios should still be aired on TV, but with some conditions: “As long as it’s not offensive toward anyone or excessively vulgar, where you can tell I’m just being emotional, I don’t think it should be overly controlled. Otherwise, you’d miss out on a lot of what we go through in the car. Believe me: you wouldn’t want to put a microphone inside a football field and hear what players are saying, because it’s a similar situation.”