Stewards announce verdict on Verstappen's swearing: This is his penalty
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- Ludo van Denderen
The FIA stewards are not happy with Max Verstappen's statements during the press conference in Singapore on Thursday. In it, the Red Bull Dutchman used the word 'f**k', which was against the stewards' wishes. After the Dutchman was summoned to come and explain his choice of words, the stewards decided to give him some community service work.
The conversation between the stewards and Max Verstappen with Red Bull team manager Jonathan Wheatley lasted fifteen minutes. After that, the verdict came quite quickly:
"It is the policy of the FIA to ensure that language used in its public forums, such as press conferences, meets generally accepted standards for all audiences and broadcasts. In particular this is true of statements made by participants in the World Championships and thus being role models both inside and outside the sport. This is clear in the regulations of the FIA and has been reinforced through previous cases brought before the Stewards in Formula One, in particular in Las Vegas in 2023," the stewards stated.
"The Stewards reviewed the transcript of the FIA Thursday Driver Press Conference in Singapore and Max Verstappen, driver of car 1, used language to describe his car at the Event in Azerbaijan which is generally considered "coarse, rude" or may "cause offense" and is not considered suitable for broadcast. This is "Misconduct" as defined in Art 20 of the International Sporting Code, and is a breach of Art 12.2.1.k."
Stewards wanted a more severe penalty
The stewards subsequently reported that they had seen that Verstappen's choice of words was not directed at a single person or group. "When summoned to the Stewards the driver 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 coordination with the Secretary General for Sport of the FIA."
This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton