The three-time world champion Formula 1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) was penalized this Friday by the FIA stewards after uttering a vulgar word on Thursday during the press conference prior to the Singapore Grand Prix.
The governing body of F1, the FIAusually imposes fines in these types of cases, although in this case it fined the Dutchman for “carrying out work of general interest” under its supervision, without specifying what type.
The word that led to this sanction was uttered when he was asked why his teammate, the Mexican Sergio Pérez, was faster last weekend in Azerbaijan.
Verstappen was fined for using the latter word as “it is considered foul language and may cause offence, “It is therefore not suitable for broadcast,” the stewards’ decision reads.
The text states that “the pilot explained that he uses the word regularly after learning English, which is not his native language.”
“While the commissioners accept that this may be true, it is important that people who may be role models are aware of the language used when speaking in public and are not under any pressure,” they added.
“Verstappen has apologised for his behaviour.”
The decision comes after drivers were asked to tone down the foul language they use over team radios and which are broadcast.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also said on Thursday that the vulgarity that can be heard live on television at GPs must be stopped.
In an interview with specialist media outlet Motorsport, the F1 boss called for vulgarity in the language used to be toned down.
“We have to differentiate between motor racing and rap. We are not rappers. How many times a minute do they say the word that begins with F?” Ben Sulayem said.
Drivers such as Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have stated that emotions run high in the heat of battle and that these expressions could simply be removed from broadcasts.
