Verstappen might face punishment for being rude
2 min read
Formula One organizers asked Red Bull driver Max Verstappen to behave well “work of public interest” after he swore during a press conference for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
The organizers reminded the Red Bull driver about his offensive valgour words during the Thursday conference organised by the governing FIA.
Stewards told Verstappen on Friday for an alleged breach of the international sporting code. They said in a statement that Verstappen apologised for his behaviour and explained he considered the word used to be ‘ordinary in speech as he learnt it, English not being his native language’.
While the stewards accept that this may be true, it is important for role models to learn to be mindful when speaking in public forums, in particular when not under any particular pressure.
The stewards note that significant fines have been levied for language offensive to or directed at specific groups. This is not the case here. But as this topic has been raised before and is well known by the competitors, the stewards determined to order a greater penalty than previously.
The work of public interest will be carried out in co-ordination with the FIA’s secretary general for sport at a date to be decided.
Formula One drivers are heard over the team radio during the heat of battle by millions of viewers worldwide, with the swearing bleeped out.
Here is what he said “We’re not rappers, you know,” Ben Sulayem, an Emirati, told motorsport.com in an interview. “They say the F-word how many times per minute?”
When asked about Ben Sulayem’s comment, Verstappen replied by saying everyone swore and suggested it was a losing battle.
He said “Even if a five-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.”
BY LUCKY SEANEGO
