2 weeks Ago By Daniel Moxon
Max Verstappen has been summoned by Formula One stewards after using an expletive during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix . Despite being asked to refrain from swearing during official FIA media sessions, the Dutchman ignored this request while discussing his Red Bull car, which he described as being "f***ed". Following the first practice session on Friday, the FIA confirmed that Verstappen and a representative from his team have been asked to meet with the stewards at 7pm local time.
The issue of swearing has become a contentious topic in the F1 paddock after FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem expressed his desire for drivers to use less offensive language. He suggested that drivers could do more to limit their use of bad language while racing . Ben Sulayem stated: "We're not rappers, you know? They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that.
Imagine you are sitting with your children and watching the race and then someone is saying all of this dirty language. I mean, what would your children or grandchildren say?" However, many drivers, including Verstappen, criticised this viewpoint. The Dutch driver dismissed the idea that he should be mindful of his language while racing, retorting: "Excuse me for the language, but, like, what are we? Five-year-olds? Six-year-olds? "Even if a fove-year-old or six-year-old is watching, I mean, they will eventually swear anyway.
Even if the parents won't, or they will not allow it, when they grow up, they will walk around with their friends and they will be swearing. So, you know, this is not changing anything." The Dutchman also highlighted the unfairness of expecting drivers to monitor their language while being constantly connected to a radio that broadcasts almost in real-time to viewers at home.
He added: "Everyone swears, some people a bit more than others. It also depends a bit what language you speak. "Of course, abuse is something else.
.. but I think a lot of things get broadcast nowadays where in other sports you don't run around with a mic attached to you.
A lot of people say a lot of bad things when they are full of adrenaline in other sports; it just doesn't get picked up. Where here, probably also for entertainment purposes, things get sent out "It's just probably a bit the world that we live in..
. I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it or not giving the option for people to hear it. Of course, there are a lot of apps where people can listen to radios and stuff.
You have to probably limit it, or have a bit of a delay, that you can censor out a few things. That will help a lot more than putting bans on drivers.".
