Max Verstappen speaks out as F1 stewards punish Red Bull star with…read more
Max Verstappen has expressed his confusion over the FIA’s decision to penalize him with ‘community service’ for using an expletive during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix. The three-time Formula 1 world champion was summoned for a 15-minute meeting with the stewards after swearing during a media session on Thursday. Although Verstappen apologized for his language, the penalty comes in the wake of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s recent crackdown on swearing and other vulgar expressions in the sport.
In his public comments to reporters, Verstappen avoided criticizing the stewards directly, stating that he had “no words” to describe the punishment. However, in a conversation with the Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, the 26-year-old was more open in his response, describing the decision as “bizarre” and hinting that he might find ways to defy the FIA’s restrictions outside of official press conferences.
Verstappen’s situation was compared to that of Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, who had used similar language after serving a one-race ban following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but escaped any formal punishment. Magnussen had declared he was going to “f*** things up,” but since the comment was made outside of a press conference, he faced no consequences from the FIA. Verstappen noted this difference and hinted that future comments might be made outside of the official press conference setting. “Apparently, we can swear in the media pen,” Verstappen said, suggesting that his remarks could be reserved for more informal interactions with the media in the future. “Next time, you don’t have to ask me anything in the press conference, and then we can tell our story here.”
Despite the penalty, Verstappen dismissed suggestions of a targeted agenda against him. He stated that he would not waste energy thinking about whether the decision was personal, preferring to focus on his racing instead. He did, however, acknowledge that this wasn’t the first time a Red Bull figure had faced sanctions for their behavior. In 2019, Verstappen himself had been ordered to serve as a Formula E steward after a physical altercation with Esteban Ocon at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Similarly, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had been reprimanded in 2021 for making disparaging comments about a marshal during the Qatar Grand Prix. Horner was required to attend a virtual FIA conference to make amends.
Verstappen, reflecting on his latest punishment, joked that his ‘community service’ would likely involve a virtual appearance at an event, similar to Horner’s past experience. He appeared unfazed by the situation, expressing no desire to dwell on the issue or let it distract him from his performance on track.
Ultimately, Verstappen’s case highlights the ongoing tension between the FIA’s attempts to maintain decorum in Formula 1 and drivers’ desire to express themselves freely, both on and off the track.
