Red Bull mechanic reacts to Max Verstappen’s swear words: “We don’t think he really wants to offend us”. Calum Nicholas wanted to downplay the issue regarding Max Verstappen's use of swear words .

Who is Calum Nicholas
Very active on social media under the pseudonym @f1mech, Calum Nicholas from Red Bull is undoubtedly the most well-known Formula 1 mechanic in the paddock. The Briton arrived in Milton Keynes in 2015 after three years at Marussia and is currently the key figure for assembling and maintaining the power units on the Anglo-Austrian team’s cars.

Nicholas defends Max
During an interview on the TalkSPORT podcast, Calum Nicholas spoke about the language drivers use over the radio and how it is perceived in the garage. The reference is clearly to Max Verstappen, who last year was sentenced to community service by the FIA: “When we hear drivers using colorful language on team radio, we have to remember that they are in a moment of immense pressure. When we hear them, in the garage we never think, ‘How mean he is to us.’ We understand that it’s an extremely stressful environment. You can use vulgar words without being offensive—sometimes, colorful expressions are used with a smile. Words alone don’t tell the whole story.”

Regarding drivers as role models, Calum Nicholas remarked: “People say drivers should set an example for kids, but as a parent, I think that responsibility is mine. Parents need to take on these responsibilities themselves and not expect others to do it for them.”

A final thought on Max Verstappen: “The relationship between drivers and the people in the garage is largely based on trust. We know that if we give Max the right car, he will deliver results. There is pressure, yes, but mostly it’s internal. We are very critical of our own work. A driver’s ambition cannot be turned off.”