Leclerc defends Verstappen for swearing: 'It's hard for us'

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F1 driver Charles Leclerc on swearing Max Verstappen and the FIA
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  • Matt Gretton
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Charles Leclerc has defended Max Verstappen for swearing. The Ferrari driver explains that it is so difficult for the drivers to be mindful of their language when they are driving at high speeds in Formula 1. In addition, Leclerc thinks the FIA has more important things to deal with.

Leclerc explains his view

Recently, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem pleaded with drivers to reduce the swearing over team radios. Then, in the press conference before the Singapore Grand Prix, Verstappen used the word 'f***ed' and was punished with community service. Leclerc, among others, also spoke out about the swearing but focused on the team radio aspect.

"I think there are other priorities for the FIA to look at at the moment. We are adults. We are one of the only sports where we hear the drivers speak during the actual race. I would more return the favour to the FIA to ask them to maybe take off some of our bad words and not broadcast it as much," Leclerc said about the swearing by drivers.

"It's something quite easy to do and for us to control our words when you are driving a car 300 km per hour in between walls for some street track is tricky and we are humans after all. So I don't see that much of a priority for now."

This article has been created in collaboration with Jeroen Immink