- The FIA has asked Max Verstappen to perform his “public service”
- The 26-year-old described his Red Bull in Azerbaijan before qualifying as ‘fucked up’
- Formula 1 teammates support Verstappen after punishment
Formula One stars will convene the world’s richest “union”, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), to discuss the furore over Max Verstappen’s punishment for swearing at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.
The three-time world champion used the f-word in a televised call to the media, a transgression that stewards punished by ordering him to complete the F1 equivalent of community service.
Verstappen, who gave deliberately brief responses in subsequent press conferences in protest at his treatment, has since won the support of his fellow drivers, who believe the penalty is draconian, based on comments he has received on the GPDA WhatsApp group.
Even Lewis Hamilton, who has rarely been heard to swear in his long career, urged Verstappen not to carry out his “public service”, the exact nature of which remains to be determined.
And after seeing his championship lead over Lando Norris cut to 52 points on Sunday with six rounds remaining, Verstappen, 26, even indicated that such problems could hasten his exit from grand prix racing.
Max Verstappen has been ordered to carry out public interest work after defying FIA orders
Verstappen, 26, has won the support of his fellow drivers following the foul-mouthed scandal in Singapore
Long-time rival Lewis Hamilton has urged Verstappen not to perform his “public service”
The GPDA is now due to meet in private to formulate a collective response to the situation. Chairman Alex Wurz said: “How many lifelong community services would[former Haas team principal]Guenther Steiner have to serve for using the f-word?”
‘He was glorified for using the f-word.
“Netflix streamed this globally, no problem. But then to suddenly change like that?
“The choice of words is not a matter of 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 how we will speak to the FIA and the President.”
It was Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA president, who fuelled the controversy by declaring his intention to clamp down on swearing on team radios. “We have to differentiate between motor sport and rap music,” the former Emirati rally champion said last week.
Wurz, who drove for Benetton, McLaren and Williams in a 69-race Formula One career, added: “Drivers should be allowed to express themselves authentically to a certain extent.
The Dutch drivers’ championship lead was cut to 52 points on Sunday thanks to Lando Norris
‘Of course, it shouldn’t be personally offensive, but it shouldn’t be discriminatory either.
“Everyone has made a lot of progress in that regard, so for me the sanction is too severe.”
Formula One Group, the sport’s commercial rights holder, issued the radio messages with a delay and censored the foul language. A spokesman told Mail Sport that they would continue to operate in that way.