Verstappen punished for swearing as FIA clamps down on bad language

09/20/2024 12:42 PM

• Verstappen to undergo 'some work of public interest'
• Champion faces difficult weekend at Singapore GP

Max Verstappen has been punished by Formula One's governing body for swearing in the immediate aftermath of a backlash by the world champion and other drivers against the FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem's, demand that drivers cease to use bad language. It is a row Verstappen is expected to vigorously return to as this weekend's meeting in Singapore progresses.

Before the race weekend began Ben Sulayem had said: "We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music. We're not rappers, you know. They say the f-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That's them and we are [us]".