FIA steward defends Verstappen’s punishment

FIA steward Johnny Herbert has defended the community service penalty handed to Max Verstappen for his swearing at the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.

Verstappen was summoned before the stewards of the Marina Bay Street Circuit over an alleged breach of the International Sports Code after he swore at the official press conference on Thursday, hours after FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem called for a reduction in abuse from drivers.

The Red Bull driver was subsequently told to do community service as punishment for his language, but Lewis Hamilton called on Verstappen to boycott the “joke” sanction in the post-qualifying press conference. Media crowds the paddock.

Herbert was one of the FIA ​​commissioners in Singapore who looked into the incident, with the three-time Grand Prix winner believing the punishment was justified.

“At the press conference in Singapore, Max used the F-word about his car. The press conferences are broadcast all over the world. There is more swearing than ever before. A press conference is not the place for this,” he said Casino Hawks.

“Some journalists have said the sport is trying to turn drivers into robots. That is not the case. They just ask her not to curse, which I think is the right thing to do. Most drivers don’t swear.”

“It all blew up after that because he went to the press conference, gave one-word answers and then had his own impromptu press conference out in the paddock.”

“That showed Max’s rebellious streak. I love that side of him, that’s what defines Max, Max, his honest and outspoken character.”

“But there is a time and a place. Personally, I think there is too much swearing. I don’t want my five-year-old grandchild to hear such language.”

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Conversations with Verstappen

Herbert recalled the discussions in the room with Verstappen, explaining how the three-time F1 champion was “calmed down” and how community service was decided as a punishment rather than a simple fine.

“The incident was reported to us as stewards,” Herbert added. “We had a good, open conversation with Max for about 20 minutes or half an hour in a difficult situation.

“You could see on his face that he was really excited about it. But as he left, he seemed mollified by the process and why he is there. He didn’t blame us as administrators.”

“As stewards, we have a number of tools at our disposal to penalize drivers. We are there to implement the rules and make a decision together.”

“We could have fined him, but we felt it would be more beneficial to get him to do something socially responsible. It’s up to Max and the FIA ​​what that is.”