Max Verstappen found himself somewhat of a martyr, becoming the first recipient of the FIA’s new profanity rules during the Singapore Grand Prix. The reigning champion was sentenced to one day of community service for swearing while answering a question about his car during a press conference.
“I don’t know, man. A different setup. So, as soon as I went into qualifying, I realized the car was f*****,” were the Dutchman’s controversial words.
After receiving the penalty, the Red Bull driver protested by giving short, one-word answers during the following press conference. Shortly after, he organized an impromptu media event to answer journalists’ questions in his team’s hospitality suite.
The next victim of the new system was Charles Leclerc, who accidentally swore in Mexico City. In this case, the Monegasque driver was fined $10,000, avoiding further penalties after apologizing.
The changes made by the FIA to its regulations have sparked a strong reaction from the drivers. In particular, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, chaired by former F1 driver Alexander Wurz and with George Russell as director, issued a statement regarding the perception of driver behavior.
The statement also criticized FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem‘s use of media, urging him to “consider his tone and language.” Speaking to the media, Max Verstappen said: “You always have to be politically correct. It’s always been like this, but I think, with some of the recent changes, it’s become a bit less enjoyable.” – the three-time Formula 1 world champion pointed out.
Regarding the possible worsening of the relationship between the drivers and the FIA, Max Verstappen added: “If it gets worse, I don’t know, but as far as I’m concerned, I prefer not to say too much. I’m simply living my life, doing what I have to do during race weekends, but also beyond that. Do what you enjoy, but you have to be very careful about what you say.” – the Dutchman concluded.
Leave a Reply