The controversy over swearing in F1
First Fernando Alonso, then Martin Brundle. Among the – not many, to be fair – drivers and former drivers who seem to side with the International Federation regarding the controversy over curse words that flared up during the Singapore weekend, is also the 65-year-old Englishman, now a respected commentator for Sky UK. As anticipation grows to see if Max Verstappen will continue his boycott of the FIA by giving monosyllabic answers in official press conferences (he wasn’t present for Thursday’s, but he has already said he will attend the ones reserved for the top three finishers), Martin Brundle believes the three-time world champion is wasting his energy on a pointless battle.
Martin Brundle criticizes Max Verstappen
“The FIA plays the role of referee, police, judge, and jury,” said Martin Brundle. “I don’t understand why Max is wasting his energy on this. I really don’t get it, are we talking about swearing? He’s a world champion, a three-time world champion who could soon be a four-time champion. What’s the point? It’s obvious he’s a role model, a reference point. He represents Formula 1, his team, and his country. He can speak however he sees fit, but does he really need to use gratuitous curse words in press conferences? Is it really necessary?”
Can Lando Norris become an F1 champion?
Martin Brundle also analyzed the chances of fellow Briton Lando Norris winning again in Austin and chipping away more points from the championship leader: “He has the speed to do it, the team has built a fantastic car. Lando is learning, he’s growing, and he’s becoming more comfortable. Whether you’re the hunter or the hunted makes all the difference in any sport. But how will his mind react when, this year or next, he’s close to winning the championship? How mentally strong will he be? We won’t know until that moment arrives, but it’s true he has the raw speed to do it.”
The former driver for Tyrrell, Brabham, and McLaren also assessed Lando Norris‘s learning phase very positively, noting that he’s growing race by race while facing a tough competitor like Max Verstappen: “Lando is also gaining great experience… In Austria, for example, we saw them battle, and I think Lando underestimated Max and how aggressive his rival can be in duels. But he’s learned from that, and even though he’s still in the learning phase, the way he won in the Netherlands and Singapore was incredible. All of this will give him great confidence.” – the TV commentator for Sky UK concluded.
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