Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen faced consequences on Friday for using profanity in a news conference where he was arguing against stricter regulations on drivers swearing. The FIA stewards ruled that Verstappen must undertake some form of public interest work, with the specifics to be determined in consultation with the FIA. This decision followed Verstappen’s use of an expletive during a discussion about his car’s performance in the previous Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session, held prior to the Singapore Grand Prix.
The stewards stated that Verstappen defended his use of the word by claiming it was common in his everyday speech due to English not being his first language. They emphasized his role model status and advised him to be more cautious when speaking in public settings. Verstappen also shared his views on not penalizing drivers for swearing during the same press conference, suggesting that broadcasters should handle airing any radio messages containing such language, rather than implementing bans on them.
This ruling coincided with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s remarks regarding the prevalence of swearing in the sport, during which he compared motorsport to rap music. Some criticism arose from this comparison, notably from seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who rebuked Ben Sulayem for perpetuating stereotypes about rappers that contained racial undertones. The incident has sparked discussions within the Formula 1 community about the use of language, particularly swearing, in the context of the sport’s public image.
