Is being a fluent speaker of the English language a requirement of getting into Formula One?

Question

Do you have to be fluent in English to get into Formula One racing? All the drivers seem to speak it very well in the post race interview.

Answer 1

If it was a great many English drivers such as Nigel Mansell would have been excluded.

Answer 2

No it is not a requirement, but all of the drivers do learn to speak English because as others have pointed out it is the language used in the course of the racing and testing. It is also the most prevelant language of the sponsers and media, which are also very important to F1.

Answer 3

They are speaking English?  Not Kimmi.  He speaks some kind of jibberish that only he understands.

Answer 4

LOL! Kimmi sort of mumbles even when he's laughing his head off!

Answer 5

no, formula 1 isnt an english sport, its a worldwide sport, so it doesnt matter if they cant. kimmi raikkonen doesnt speak english does he? many drivers speak english because they talk to english cameras (ITV), i suppose they talk to french german american japanese cameras as well.

my answer: no

Answer 6

No, most drivers learn it to communicate between others drivers from many different countries, also most drivers spend a lot of time in UK when driving in lower catorgeries so need it to get by. Toranasuke Takagi is the only F1 driver I can remember not being able to speak English.

Answer 7

Someone in the Toyota team needs to improve their English - - Trulli would have got 2 more points if he hadn't pitted by mistake in Spain.  (I think Trulli's English is pretty good BTW).

The reason English is so critical is that most of the teams are based in the UK and some of the most prestigious feeder  series are also British - most drivers learn it well before they get into F1.

Answer 8

No, but it helps. A lot of the communications are in English, so the drivers learn as they go along.

Edit: Kimi does speak English, he just talks in a very monotone way. I understand what he says lol.