Max Verstappen has been penalized by the FIA for using coarse language at a press conference, highlighting the importance of conduct by role models in the sport.
Formula One officials have mandated that Max Verstappen engage in 'public interest work' following his use of profanity during a televised press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix. In a recent media call conducted by the FIA to preview the Sunday race, Verstappen referred to his Red Bull car from the preceding race in Azerbaijan as 'f*****.' The FIA classified Verstappen’s choice of words as 'coarse' and 'rude,' which unfortunately followed comments from the federation's president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who expressed a desire for F1 drivers to refrain from swearing over the radio.
At the age of 26, Verstappen was called to meet with the stewards at 19:00 local time (12pm BST), with the FIA issuing its decision just 24 minutes afterward. A statement from the FIA indicated, 'The stewards listened to the driver of car 1 (Max Verstappen), the team representative, and examined the audio transcript.' The FIA's policy is to ensure that the language utilized in its public forums, such as press conferences, adheres to generally accepted standards suitable for all audiences and broadcasts.
This is particularly relevant for statements made by participants in the world championships, as they serve as role models both within the sport and beyond. The stewards examined the transcript from the FIA's Thursday driver press conference in Singapore, noting that Max Verstappen used language to refer to his car during the Azerbaijan event that is generally regarded as 'coarse, rude,' or potentially 'offensive,' making it unsuitable for broadcast.
This constitutes 'Misconduct' as outlined in Article 20 of the International Sporting Code, representing a violation of Article 12.2.1.k. The stewards acknowledged that the language used was not aimed at any individual or group. When called before the stewards, the driver clarified that the term he employed is commonly used in conversation as he learned it, with English not being his first language.
While the stewards acknowledge that this might be the case, it is crucial for role models to be aware of their language when addressing public forums, especially when not facing any pressure. Verstappen expressed regret for his actions. The stewards pointed out that substantial fines have been issued for language that is offensive to or aimed at specific groups, but this situation does not fall into that category.
However, since this issue has been previously addressed and is well recognized among competitors, the stewards decided to impose a harsher penalty than in the past, requiring Verstappen to perform 'work of public interest' (Art. 12.4.1.d of the International Sporting Code), in collaboration with the Secretary General for Sport of the FIA. In an interview with Autosport released before Thursday's press conference, Ben Sulayem faced criticism for likening drivers to rappers.
“We’re not rappers, you know,” he remarked. “They use the f-word how many times per minute? That’s not who we are; that’s them.” In response to Ben Sulayem's comments, Lewis Hamilton stated, “Regarding what he (Ben Sulayem) said, I’m not fond of the way he expressed it. Referring to 'rappers' is quite stereotypical. If you consider it, most rappers are black, which implies that 'we are not like them.' I believe those words were poorly chosen and carry a racial undertone.”
