Max Verstappen has been sentenced to Formula One’s equivalent of community service after swearing in a televised press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The FIA are keen to clamp down on expletives, and the triple world champion has been handed an exemplary punishment by the stewards.
Verstappen described his Red Bull prior to qualifying last week in Baku as having been ‘f*****’. That prompted officials to summon the Dutchman to answer for his language in breach of the International Sporting Code.
The stewards’ decreed an ‘obligation to accomplish some work of public interest’. The exact nature of the penalty is to be decided, but it may be involved some involvement at the grassroots of the sport.
‘It is the policy of the FIA to ensure that language used in its public forums, such as press conferences, meets generally accepted standards for all audiences and broadcasts, said the stewards’ adjudication.
Max Verstappen has been punished after he defied recent FIA orders about swearing
The FIA are keen to clampdown on swearing during press conferences and over team radio (FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem pictured)
Verstappen speaking on Thursday described his Red Bull last weekend in Baku as ‘f*****’
Verstappen (pictured in action today) has been told to accomplish work of public interest
‘In particular, this is true of statements made by participants in the World Championships and thus being role models both inside and outside the sport. This is clear in the regulations of the FIA and has been reinforced through previous cases brought before the stewards in Formula One, in particular in Las Vegas in 2023 (a reference to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff being called to answer for swearing).
‘The stewards reviewed the transcript of the FIA’s Thursday driver press conference and Max Verstappen used language to describe his car at the event in Azerbaijan which is generally considered “coarse, rude” or may “cause offence” and is not considered suitable for broadcast. This is “misconduct” as defined in Art 20 of the International Sporting Code, and is a breach of article 12.2.1.k.
‘The stewards noted that the language was not directed at anyone or any group. When summoned to the stewards the driver explained that the word used is ordinary in speech as he learned it, English not being his native language.
‘While the stewards accept that this may be true, it is important for role models to learn to be mindful when speaking in public forums, in particular when not under any particular pressure.
‘Verstappen apologised for his behaviour.’
‘The stewards note that significant fines have been levied for language offensive to or directed at specific groups. This is not the case here. But, as this topic has been raised before and is well known by the competitors, the stewards determined to order a greater penalty than previously and that Verstappen be “obliged to accomplish some work of public interest” in co-[1]ordination with the secretary general for sport of the FIA.’
Verstappen, 26, has the right to appeal.