Yesterday, Max Verstappen was punished for swearing during Thursday’s news conference. This was part of the FIA’s crackdown on drivers cursing over team radios or FIA news conferences. Verstappen said his car was “f—ed” in an irritated response to a question about what he could or could not say over team radios under such a clampdown.
During the post-qualifying news conference on Saturday, Verstappen refused to say more than a few words in response to questions, saying he’d prefer to speak to reporters outside. That led to a big group of reporters, including The Athletic‘s Luke Smith, following Verstappen into the paddock to talk to him. Here’s what he had to say then:
💬 I find it, of course, ridiculous what happened, so why should I then give full answers because it is very easy, apparently, that you get a fine or some sort of penalty, so I prefer then not to speak a lot, save my voice, and of course, we can do the interviews also somewhere else.
💬 … they (the FIA) want to set a precedent. People got warnings or a little fine, and now, with me, they want to set an even bigger example, I guess, which for me is a bit weird, of course, because I didn’t swear at anyone particularly; I just said one thing about my car.
We’ll have more from this encounter on the site soon. In the meantime, you can read up on the punishment that has irked Verstappen below.
GO FURTHER
Max Verstappen ordered to complete public interest work for inappropriate language at Singapore Grand Prix
