Max Verstappen punished with community service for swearing in press conference

Max Verstappen has been handed a community service order for swearing during Thursday’s FIA press conference in Singapore as the row over drivers’ language deepened.

Red Bull’s three-time world champion was warned about his language by the FIA’s moderator in Thursday’s conference after saying he knew his car was “f-----” as soon as he left the pits in Baku.

However, motorsport’s world governing body went one step further on Friday, summoning the Dutch driver to see the stewards who then determined he should “accomplish some work of public interest” as penance.

It is not the first time Verstappen has been ordered to carry out community service by the FIA. In 2019 he was sent to Marrakesh to observe the FIA’s stewards in action at a Formula E race after shoving Esteban Ocon in Brazil.

‘What are we? Five-year-olds?’

It is unclear what he will have to do this time, but he is likely to be highly indignant. Verstappen had already complained in Thursday’s conference that the FIA’s moderator was overreacting.

“Excuse me for the language but come on,” Verstappen replied when he was told to mind his language. “Like, what are we? Five-year-olds? Six-year-olds?

“Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching, they will eventually swear anyway, even if their parents will not allow it.

“A lot of people say a lot of bad things when they are full of adrenalin in other sports. It just doesn’t get picked up.”
Verstappen struggled in practice in Singapore on Friday, 1.294sec off the pace of McLaren’s pacesetter Lando Norris.

Mercedes driver George Russell crashed in the final minutes of the second session as Norris pipped Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to top spot.

Russell, who was only seventh fastest as he and team-mate Lewis Hamilton appeared to struggle, went straight on at Turn Eight after locking his front right wheel. The Briton managed to reverse back out of the barriers and continue to the pits, minus his front wing and with a damaged nose cone.

Returning to the theme of swearing, Verstappen had added on Thursday that the sport always had the option of choosing not to broadcast the swearing, or the press conference. “We’re here probably for entertainment purposes. It starts with not broadcasting it. If you don’t broadcast it, no one will know.

“It’s just probably the world that we live in. It seems like people are a bit more sensitive to stuff.”

The conversation had been triggered by an interview FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem gave to Autosport in which he had told F1’s drivers not to act “like rappers”.

Hamilton accused the Emirati of using racially charged language, but agreed with him that drivers should probably not swear so much.

In a statement explaining their decision on Verstappen, the FIA said: “When summoned to the Stewards [Verstappen] 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” (Art. 12.4.1.d of the International Sporting Code), in co- ordination with the Secretary General for Sport of the FIA.”

Verstappen has the right to appeal but appears unlikely to do so.

McLaren alter rear wing after protests

Meanwhile, McLaren have agreed to make some “minor adjustments” to their low-downforce rear wing from Baku in the wake of questions from rivals Red Bull.

The FIA said the wing, which was seen on television footage flexing at high speed in Azerbaijan last weekend, had passed all deflection tests. And initially it looked as if McLaren would not be required to make any changes. However, the FIA’s stance has changed. It now says it has asked McLaren to make changes.

McLaren, for their part, say they have “proactively offered” to make “minor adjustments”. The Woking team may be mindful of a protest if they continue with it as it is.

It was unlikely to be a factor either way until later in the season. The next race at which the wing was likely to be used was the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November.

McLaren said in a statement: “Whilst our Baku rear wing complies with the regulations and passes all FIA deflection tests, McLaren have proactively offered to make some minor adjustments to the wing following our conversations with the FIA. We would also expect the FIA to have similar conversations with other teams in relation to the compliance of their rear wings.”