FORMULA ONE drivers could be hit by race bans for repeated swearing or criticism of the sport’s governing body.

The FIA’s sporting code has been updated to outline the harsher penalties, meaning that should a driver commit three such offences they will now risk a one-month suspension and deduction of championship points.

It comes as part of a wider crackdown on swearing by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Last season, world champion Max Verstappen was asked to “accomplish some work of public interest” after swearing at a press conference in Singapore.