Max Verstappen was left seething after being handed a community service order for dropping the F-bomb during a Formula One press conference.
The three-time world champion has been under a lot of pressure recently with Lando Norrisclosing the gap into the title race, and the last thing he needs is an off-track distraction.
But that’s exactly what he’s got, with Verstappen landing himself in hot water over comments made during Thursday’s pre-Singapore Grand Prix press conference.
Asked about the performance of his Red Bull at the last race, the Dutchman bluntly said: ‘I knew the car was f***d’.
It came on the same day that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem called on drivers to cut back on their use of foul language during race weekends, a request that has drawn criticism up and down the grid.
But it seems F1’s governing body are taking this new initiative very seriously, as Verstappen was told to report to the stewards on Friday over his bad language before receiving an unusual punishment.
‘It is the policy of the FIA to ensure that language used in its public forums, such as press conferences, meets generally accepted standards for all audiences and broadcasts,’ a statement read.
‘Max Verstappen used language which is generally considered “coarse, rude” or may “cause offense” and is not considered suitable for broadcast.’
They went onto add such an infringement usually warrants a fine, ‘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 and that Verstappen be “obliged to accomplish some work of public interest”.’
In effect, the 26-year-old now has to do some community service for the FIA, having received a similar punishment back in 2018 after shoving Esteban Ocon in the paddock after the pair crashed in Brazil.
Verstappen was careful not to directly criticise the FIA or stewards but it was clear he was furious at being punished, saying, as quoted by De Telegraaf: ‘It might be better if I don’t say anything about that because everything I say about that doesn’t really deserve attention.
‘I think it’s all bizarre. So next time don’t ask me anything more in the press conference and then we can tell our story here.
‘Whether it’s something personal? I’m not into that and I don’t want to waste my energy on that.’
In regards to what his community service would entail, Verstappen added: ‘I will probably have to attend something, maybe via laptop. A conference, or something…’
As for matters on the track, Red Bull were once again behind the pace of rivals McLaren and Ferrari in Singapore, with Verstappen a whopping 1.2 seconds slower than Norris in Friday practice.
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