Max Verstappen has ruled out the possibility of drivers boycotting a race after the FIA introduced a new rule that could see F1 starts fined up to £101,400 (€120,000) for swearing during press conferences and media interviews.
The 27-year-old accepted the calls for drivers to be good role models but was quick to remind F1’s governing body that swear words can ‘slip out’ in the heat of the moment, with ‘adrenaline’ making it tough to stay composed.
Verstappen felt the full force of the law in Singapore last season, picking up a community service punishment for swearing during the Thursday press conference.
The ruling led to a protest from Red Bull’s star driver, who made his feelings clear on the matter.
Despite the four-time world champion’s displeasure, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has pushed ahead with his crusade against driver swearing.
Under the latest regulations, drivers could face one-month race bans and lose championship points for repeat offences.
Discussing the matter with select media, including Express Sport, Verstappen said:
“Honestly, I don’t even need to say too much right, because I think if you just look at everyone’s reaction to it, I think that says enough.
“Of course, I understand that you cannot always swear wherever you go, right? I think we all understand that as racing drivers.
But sometimes, in the heat of the moment or when you get interviewed when you’re in your car, and you’ve just had an adrenaline rush or whatever, sometimes things slip out a little bit.
“Plus, I think we all grew up, probably most people grew up in school, playing football or sports in general, it happens that you use a swear word, and I think we shouldn’t take it so serious, you know.
“Plus, I’m also not going to tell you how you should behave in life, I guess. That’s pretty much all I can say about it, but we have to deal with it at the moment - it has been written.”
Asked if a race boycott could take place in protest, he continued:
“The problem is with that is that some drivers can be like that, some of the rookie, of course, they would just get replaced with other drivers.
“So that is very difficult, you know. And I think also it is not necessary to do something like that, but I mean I think it is important that we can have a discussion about this.
But at the same time we also need help from others. Teams, promotors, we can all have a proper discussion about this as well, because we’re all in this together at the end of the day.”
