This was made clear again during the past season when Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier criticised the organisers at Rally Greece for having excessively short intervals between starting times.
The remarks didn’t sit well with the authorities, and Ogier was handed a suspended €30,000 fine, payable if he repeats a similar offence within the next two years.
In Formula 1, things are handled very differently. The series often highlights even its drivers’ most critical comments on social media, and team radio communications are a key feature of F1 broadcasts. Some of Kimi Räikkönen’s infamous radio lines have even been printed on T-shirts.
M-Sport team principal Richard Millener believes rallying could take a page out of Formula 1’s book in this regard.
“Yes, absolutely,” Millener told RallyJournal.com.
“It’s something we’re working on a lot with the WRC, the promoter, and the FIA. We want to tell these stories more and more. The promoter’s goal of having this command centre, where we’ll have more radio access to the crews. We want that to be the only form of communication, so the TV production and the press can get the real stories of what’s going on when the stage is finished,” Millener explained.
“There are many stories told after the stage finishes and before the stage starts, which we’re currently missing. At the moment, we’re gaining more and more, but as technology improves and opportunities grow, there are huge stories to be told,” he added.
Millener was hesitant to weigh in on whether drivers should be allowed to speak more openly to the media without fear of penalties, but his stance was clear nonetheless.
“In terms of free speech, that’s one political mess I don’t want to get involved in too much. But I think there’s a trade-off between expressing how you really feel in the heat of the moment versus speaking in a more controlled environment. I don’t believe in swearing or telling everything as it is when you’re in a press conference or another situation where that kind of language can be avoided. I don’t think it’s always a good example to set. However, I do believe that showing passion and explaining what’s really happened at the end of a stage is important,” he commented.
While Millener didn’t name Sebastien Ogier specifically, he clearly disapproved of fines for drivers speaking honestly.
“But the crews and the drivers need to learn to control that and do it in the best possible way. We have to promote the sport in the best way. I understand what the FIA wants to do, but having blanket restrictions across the entire sport and just fining people if they break the rules – I’m not sure that’s the best way to manage it,” Millener said.
To continue growing, the sport needs engaging personalities – something difficult to foster if drivers are silenced.
“We have to build characters and include more and more coverage away from the stages. The positive reactions we’ve received show how important this is. But it’s slow progress, and unfortunately, some fans don’t understand or appreciate how much work goes into making even the smallest changes. We want to make things work in a polished way that benefits the sport, but that can take a lot of time – sometimes too much time,” Millener reminded.
The command centre is a good starting point, but Millener predicts it will take time to make it fully operational.
“I think constant and sensible change is the best way forward, and that’s what we’re aiming for. Even if the command centre comes in 2025, I suspect it will take two years to fully realise the vision we have for it. But if we keep developing and progressing, we can build a better and more exciting sport,” Millener said enthusiastically.
