FIA breaks silence on Max Verstappen’s rebellious stance in press conference after swearing ban
The FIA has reassured Max Verstappen that he need not worry about future sanctions if he continues to follow FIA guidelines.
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Max Verstappen and Mohammed Ben Sulayem (images via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen endured a disappointing performance at the Azerbaijan GP, finishing in fifth place. During the official press conference on Thursday, ahead of the Singapore GP, he expressed frustration with his car setup in Baku, stating that it was “f***”.
However, the FIA summoned the three-time world champion for swearing, citing a violation of their guidelines on public swearing. The Dutchman refused to give detailed answers at the press conference after the Singapore GP’s qualifying session.
Max Verstappen delivered a strong qualifying session in Singapore, bouncing back after facing issues at the previous races. However, he was involved in an off-track controversy with the stewards. Following a recent fine for swearing during a press conference, Verstappen started giving one-word answers, fearing further penalties. He hinted that he will continue with the approach in future public forums to avoid breaking FIA rules and incurring more fines.
An FIA spokesperson clarified that discrediting the sport by drivers or anyone is strictly prohibited. The stewards can impose penalties in such cases, as was the case with Verstappen. They emphasized that the Dutchman’s one-word answers were a result of a recent fine
However, the FIA spokesperson assured him there was no need to fear further sanctions. As long as Verstappen followed the rules during the conference, he wouldn’t face additional penalties. Despite the short response, the world champion still managed to answer without breaking any guidelines.
No, he took part in the FIA Press Conference as required by the proceduresFIA spokesperson told GPBlog.com
Max Verstappen believes the penalty imposed on him for swearing was ridiculous
Max Verstappen expressed confusion about his punishment because he believed what he said was not that serious. He pointed out that it would have been worse if he had directly insulted someone, then it would’ve been understandable.
Although Verstappen recognized his comments were inappropriate, he believed the penalty imposed on him was unfair and ridiculous. He reckoned that the situation could’ve been handled differently without such severe consequences.
What I said wasn't that bad. It would be worse if I had insulted someone directly. I understand that it's not okay, even if emotions are involved. But I still find it ridiculous what was decided against me.Max Verstappen told AutoMotorSport.de
Certainly, the Dutchman felt that the penalty was unfair and not acceptable. This led him to respond with one-word replies during the later conference. However, according to the FIA rulebook, the stewards had no choice but to impose a form of community service.
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Gaurang Kadam
(535 Articles Published)