Max Verstappen reveals reaction from F1 driver groups over FIA swearing ban fiasco

Max Verstappen was ordered to do a single day of community service for saying the F-word during the Singapore press conference.

Max Verstappen reveals reaction from F1 driver groups over FIA swearing ban fiasco

Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

The 2024 season has been a rollercoaster for fans and drivers. The paddock has remained focused on the championship battle up front, but the FIA has remained on the other end of the road and decided to take the matter of drivers swearing seriously. This led to the governing body penalizing Max Verstappen, who later revealed the reaction of other drivers to his “silly” punishment.

FIA has made several questionable decisions and announcements over the past few months. At the beginning of the season, the governing body set an inquiry on Susie Wolff for allegedly revealing sensitive information to outsiders. Subsequently, they later had to take back this investigation as a huge outcry broke out in the paddock.

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Similarly, months later, FIA decided to clamp down on the use of swear words, and Max Verstappen became the first victim of the new ruling. He was then punished for his Singapore press conference act by giving him a day of community service, which was joked about in the paddock.

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Yeah, for sure. I wrote in the GPDA [chat] the ruling, and everyone was almost laughing like, 'what the hell is that' basically. So, yeah, it is very, very silly.
Max Verstappen said in an interview as quoted by Motorsport

The Dutchman revealed the reaction of fellow drivers as they in the GPDA(Grand Prix Driver’s Association) group chat laughed at the supposed punishment. Moreover, they thought penalizing for saying the F-word was atrocious and silly and fooled about how sensitively the governing body acted.

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How will the GPDA push back on the Max Verstappen-FIA saga?

Though drivers cracked jokes after Verstappen’s punishment even in the cooldown room, questions were raised regarding how drivers would get back at the FIA on the whole fiasco. Experts anticipated that GPDA director George Russell and the chairman would take the matter to the FIA.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
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Subsequently, GPDA chairman Alex Wurz explained the blueprint for how the matter would be taken forward.

As GPDA chairman, I have to officially say that we will discuss it internally, first reach a full consensus, and then we will consider whether and in what form we will talk to the FIA and the president.
Alex Wurz said

The Austrian elaborated that the issue would be discussed internally within the GPDA. They would then reach a consensus that everybody agrees upon and then consider the possible alternatives they have on whether to reach out to the FIA.

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Oscar Piastri [L], Lando Norris [R] (image via IMAGO)

Apart from the backing from drivers, fans pooled worldwide in support of Verstappen. Thus, the swearing ban might become an addition to the list of things that the FIA has messed up within the 2024 season and might have to redress the situation in the near future.