- Max Verstappen has been asked by the FIA to take on his ‘public service’
- The 26-year-old described his Red Bull in Azerbaijan ahead of qualifying as ‘f*****’
- Fellow Formula 1 drivers support Verstappen after punishment
Formula 1 stars are gathering at the world’s richest ‘union’, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), to discuss the commotion over the punishment Max Verstappen received for taking the oath during a press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix last Sunday.
The three-time world champion used the f-word during a televised appeal, an offence punished by the stewards by requiring him to complete a community service order equivalent to an F1 community service order in Formula 1.
Verstappen, who gave remarkably short answers in subsequent press conferences in protest of his treatment, has since gained the support of fellow drivers. They find the sanction draconian, as is evident from the feedback he received in the GPDA WhatsApp group.
Even Lewis Hamilton, who has barely been heard to swear in his long career, urged Verstappen not to take on his “public service”, the precise nature of which has yet to be determined.
And after his championship lead over Lando Norris shrank to 52 points with six rounds to go on Sunday, the 26-year-old Verstappen even indicated that such a fuss could lead to him quitting Grand Prix racing.
Max Verstappen ordered to perform work of public interest after ignoring FIA orders
Verstappen, 26, has won the support of his fellow drivers after abuse in Singapore
Long-time rival Lewis Hamilton has called on Verstappen not to take up his ‘public service’
Now the GPDA plans to meet in private to formulate a collective response to the situation. Chairman Alex Wurz said: ‘How much lifelong community service should (former Haas team principal) Guenther Steiner do for using the f-word?
He was idolized for using the f-word.
‘Netflix broadcasts this worldwide, no problem. But then suddenly change like this?
“The choice of words is not my personal taste as a driver. But as GPDA president I have to say that we will discuss it internally, reach a full consensus and then consider whether and in what form we will talk to the FIA and the president.”
It is Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA president, who has stoked the controversy by declaring that he plans to crack down on swearing over team radio. “We have to differentiate between motorsport and rap music,” the former Emirati rally champion said last week.
Wurz, who drove 69 races in total for Benetton, McLaren and Williams during his Formula 1 career, added: ‘Drivers need to be able to express themselves authentically to a certain extent.
The lead in the Dutch drivers’ championship was reduced to 52 points by Lando Norris on Sunday
‘Of course it cannot be personally offensive, nor can it be discriminatory.
“They’ve all come a long way in that regard. So for me the punishment is too severe.”
Formula One Group, the sport’s commercial rights holders, broadcast radio exchanges on time and with slurred swear words. A spokesman told Mail Sport they would continue to operate in this way.