The Dutchman has dominated the pinnacle of motorsport in recent years and will head into 2025 among the favourites to secure the crown again. Verstappen lifted his fourth title in as many years in 2024 after the Red Bull pilot eclipsed McLaren rival Lando Norris by 63 points.
But while the 27-year-old’s consistency plus that Verstappen won the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix from P17 on the grid helped him deal with McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes sealing wins, the Hasselt, Belgium-born racer was also often not that far away from controversy last year.
Verstappen enraged FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem when he swore during the pre-race press conference for the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix whilst criticising how Red Bull’s car had handled in Azerbaijan. As a result, the FIA ordered Verstappen to do community service.
Ben Sulayem feels there is too much swearing in F1, especially from drivers over their team radios. Also, the FIA slapped Charles Leclerc with a €10,000 (£8.5k) fine after the Ferrari ace swore sharing his reaction to his almost race-ending off in the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix.
Now, however, incidents of swearing like Verstappen’s and Leclerc’s could lead to a race ban after the FIA changed Formula 1’s sporting code ahead of the 2025 season. Drivers can even earn fines and a race ban if they criticise the FIA, which Tom Coronel strongly disagrees with.
Coronel vented to RacingNews365:
“I find it ridiculous that this has to happen after so many years in motorsport and that this has to be included. I totally disagree. Sport is emotion and I think that you should not take that emotion out of sport because that makes the sport less.
“And how are they going to and do they want to check it, and what is possible?… Of course, [the FIA] wants to silence the drivers as much as possible. That’s what’s behind it.
“I feel that all the emotion is being taken out of it. You’re not allowed to have an opinion at all, you just become a marketing muppet. You’re being silenced.”
Coronel is not alone in criticising Formula 1’s governing body as some FIA figures are against changing the sporting code to combat swearing, as well.
Drivers like Verstappen and Leclerc plus their Formula E, WEC and WRC counterparts will be the most affected by the changes.
Drivers from top-level FIA-sanctioned championships will now be subject to fines four times the standard rate following the changes to the sporting code. Now, F1 drivers might receive a €40k (£34k) fine after their first swearing offence, rising to €80k (£68k) and €120k (£101k).
A second offence will also carry a suspended one-month suspension from any competition, which becomes active after a third offence.
The changes also apply to all FIA licence holders including Formula 1 team principals and Verstappen’s latest title defence could be impacted.
As Verstappen intentionally swore in retaliation to Ben Sulayem’s clampdown last year, the FIA will no doubt be keeping an ear out for how the Red Bull racer reacts to it changing the sporting code. If the Dutchman swears regularly, then a race ban might hang over his head.
