Max Verstappen sanctioned by the FIA for his swear word during the press conference
Present at Thursday's press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Max Verstappen let slip a curse word when asked about the difficulties faced by his Red Bull during the Azerbaijan GP. Summoned by the FIA, the Dutchman will have to carry out "community service."
Max Verstappen expects to experience a tricky end to the season with the recent difficulties faced by the Red Bull team. McLaren took the lead in the constructors’ championship in Baku, and Lando Norris has closed the gap to the Dutchman to 59 points. The three-time world champion sees his lead shrinking race after race as the final seven races of the 2024 season begin in Singapore.
During the press conference on Thursday, Verstappen addressed several topics. He is notably expecting another tough weekend in the city-state and hopes to make the car more reliable with his team. Questioned about his lack of pace compared to his teammate, Sergio Perez, during the race in Baku, the Dutchman replied: “I don’t know. The settings were different. As soon as I started qualifying, I knew the car was s****.”
An untimely timing
Conference host Tom Clarkson immediately reacted to Verstappen’s remarks: « Let’s watch our language in the future. » Especially since the FIA, under the leadership of its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, asked the Formula One Management this week to take measures to limit the dissemination of coarse remarks on television.
The body shared a statement announcing the Dutchman’s summons before the commissioners for alleged violation of Article 12.2.1.k of the International Sporting Code. The article states that any misconduct is considered an offense.
Other summonses of this kind have already taken place in the past. This was the case of Frederic Vasseur and Toto Wolff during the Las Vegas Grand Prix last season. They had received a simple warning.
A public interest work as a sanction
The FIA quickly announced the sanction imposed on Max Verstappen. He is required to perform community service. In line with the president’s wishes, the FIA has decided to react more strictly to this misconduct by the number 1 driver.
(e) As this issue has already been raised before and is well known to competitors, the commissioners have decided to levy a heavier penalty than before and that Verstappen be “required to perform community service,” the statement said. The nature of this community service remains to be determined.
