September 21, (THEWILL) – Max Verstappen staged a protest at the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, against what he called a “ridiculous” punishment for swearing during an earlier session this week.
The three-time world champion qualified second on the grid for Sunday’s race but gave only brief answers or “no comment” responses to reporters in the official FIA post-qualifying press conference.
The Red Bull driver was sanctioned by Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, for using foul language during Thursday’s drivers’ press conference.
Verstappen must now complete “work of public interest” as a form of community service. The stewards deemed his language unsuitable for broadcast, describing it as “coarse, rude” and potentially offensive.
Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction with the penalty, stating he would prefer to speak to journalists outside the official FIA media session. He questioned the need for full answers given the ease with which fines or penalties can be imposed. The Dutch driver received support from fellow competitors Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, who both criticised the FIA’s decision.
The incident follows a request from the FIA for drivers to reduce their use of foul language over team radio during races. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem had stated in an interview that motorsport was not “rap music” and drivers should mind their language, especially considering young viewers.
However, leading drivers pushed back, arguing that heightened emotions during races are natural and broadcasters could simply edit out any offensive language.
Hamilton took issue with Ben Sulayem’s comparison to rap music, calling it “stereotypical” and noting that “most rappers are black.” He argued that this choice of words had racial implications, further intensifying the debate surrounding the FIA’s stance on driver conduct and language use in F1.
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.
