Sébastien Ogier has explained his lack of comment at stage-end interviews on Friday at Rally Chile – a response aimed squarely at the FIA.
Ogier was slapped with a suspended €30,000 fine at the conclusion of Acropolis Rally Greece three weeks ago for comments he made regarding gaps between cars amid hanging dust.
At the stopline of stage one in Greece, Ogier said: “It is annoying to see that the sport never learns. We ask, we know that we are going to have dust. There is hanging dust. Oh, they say no. What do you have in your head? Nothing. It’s crazy.”
Stewards judged that Ogier had violated Article 12.2.1.f of the FIA International Sporting Code – which relates to “any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA.”
However Ogier is not the only world champion in world motorsport to have landed in trouble with the FIA of late.
In the lead-up to last week’s Singapore Grand Prix in Formula 1, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem made headlines when he called for drivers to stop swearing inside the cockpit and for F1 to limit that being broadcast.
Max Verstappen then used the F-word later in an FIA press conference ahead of the race, and was slapped with an “obligation to accomplish some work of public interest”.
The three-time world champion responded by saying next-to-nothing in press conferences held later throughout the event, and instead spoke to media outside.
Ogier has opted for a similar tactic, limiting his responses to stage-end interviewers throughout Rally Chile as a clear stand against the FIA.
Ogier has been evasive during TV interviews in Chile – but has at least been taking time to speak to other media, including DirtFish for this throwback to his past
At Friday lunchtime’s media zone, the eight-time world champion explained his stance.
“I mean you realize that I don’t really want to talk today,” he said.
“We’ve been told that we shouldn’t, at the moment… it’s not a fantastic reaction to do what I do. It’s nothing personal against you [the media], it’s nothing personal against the fans – I’m sorry about it, but we have very little tools we can use so…yeah.
“Today I don’t feel I want to talk and I’m sorry, like I say, for all of the people who deserve better than that. But we’ve been told from the top of the FIA that we need to shut our mouths, so it’s a bit sad.
“It’s not only in rally at the moment,” he added, an apparent reference to Verstappen’s run-in with stewards at last week’s Singapore Grand Prix. “Let’s see what the future brings.”
Ott Tänak holds similar concerns to Ogier, and he too has kept his responses at stage ends to a minimum this weekend.
At the end of the televised run of shakedown, the 2019 world champion commented: “Quite interesting times at the moment, not sure how much we can say. But still living the dream and enjoying to drive the cars.”
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala sympathized with Ogier's position
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala added: “You have to remember that there is not many sports where you come after the exercise and you are being interviewed immediately. Adrenalin level is really, really high and of course at that moment you don’t think what you are saying.
“There have been some bad words in the past but it’s not on purpose, it’s like when you are emotions are so high and your adrenalin level [is high] so you say the first thing that comes to your mind.
“And I know that of course we want to give a good image but it’s not always possible, and of course Séb is now a little bit trying to balance it out that he is fighting it the right way not to say some too strong words.”
Ogier has suggested that he may say more as the weekend progresses.
Asked if he is not talking only for today, Ogier said: “Hopefully it will come back, yes.”
