September 20, (THEWILL) – Formula One champion, Max Verstappen, has been ordered to complete public service work, following his use of inappropriate language during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix. The incident occurred when the Red Bull driver used profanity while discussing car setups with his teammate Sergio Perez.
The FIA stewards ruled that the 26-year-old’s comments violated Article 12.2.1.k of the international sporting code, which addresses misconduct in public forums. Despite Verstappen’s apology and explanation that English is not his native language, the stewards emphasised the importance of maintaining proper speech standards for public figures in motorsport.
Instead of imposing a fine, the stewards mandated that Verstappen undertake public service work coordinated by the FIA. This punishment is similar to the community service Verstappen completed in 2019, after an altercation with Esteban Ocon, at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he shadowed stewards at a Formula E race in Morocco.
The ruling follows a comparable incident in Las Vegas in 2023, where Mercedes and Ferrari team principals received formal warnings for using inappropriate language during a press conference. The specific details of Verstappen’s upcoming work have not yet been defined but are expected to involve duties with an FIA championship or club.
Verstappen currently leads the championship standings by 59 points ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. However, the Dutch driver has not won in his last seven races as Red Bull’s performance has declined.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
