2 weeks Ago By Harry Smith
Max Verstappen celebrated his pole position in style at the Japanese Grand Prix , and the Dutchman was clever to avoid an FIA fine in the post-qualifying press conference, dancing around a journalist’s question while poking fun at the governing body’s new language regulations. The reigning world champion looked destined for a weekend fighting George Russell , Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc behind the two McLaren drivers, but the Dutchman pulled off a masterful lap at the end of Q3 to pip Lando Norris to pole position. Speaking to the media afterwards, Verstappen was asked what it feels like to drive at the legendary Suzuka Circuit.
He replied in jest: “If you want to drive the car, give it a go - I think you’re going to poop your pants." He then turned to the FIA media delegate, adding: “Is that allowed to say in the press conference?" Verstappen’s comments come after a drawn-out debate in the paddock about driver language. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is desperate for F1 stars to swear less in press conferences, media interviews and on the radio, and the four-time world champion became a victim of his clampdown in Singapore last season.
After swearing in an official FIA press conference, the Dutchman was hit with a community service punishment, which he served after the end-of-season prize-giving gala in Rwanda. Since then, F1’s governing body has ramped up the potential punishments to an extreme degree. Under the regulations published ahead of the 2025 season, drivers can be fined up to £101,400 (€120,000) after three offences and even be hit with championship point deductions and race suspensions.
No F1 drivers have been punished so far this season, although there was outrage in the World Rally Championship paddock when Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux was fined £25,000 (€30,000), two-thirds of which was suspended, for swearing during a post-race interview in Sweden. Discussing the new rules ahead of the season, Verstappen told media including Express Sport: “Honestly, I don’t even need to say too much right, because I think if you just look at everyone’s reaction to it, I think that says enough. Of course, I understand that you cannot always swear wherever you go, right? I think we all understand that as racing drivers.
“But sometimes, in the heat of the moment or when you get interviewed when you’re in your car, and you’ve just had an adrenaline rush or whatever, sometimes things slip out a little bit. Plus, I think we all grew up, probably most people grew up in school, playing football or sports in general. “It happens that you use a swear word, and I think we shouldn’t take it so serious, you know.
Plus, I’m also not going to tell you how you should behave in life, I guess. That’s pretty much all I can say about it, but we have to deal with it at the moment - it has been written.”.
