Verstappen reveals plan behind ‘bizarre’ Singapore punishment

Max Verstappen had hinted at what his swearing punishment might entail, whilst saying he does not want to “waste” his “energy” on the incident that occurred during the drivers’ press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Dutchman was found to be in breach of Article 12.2.1.k of the International Sporting Code, with the subsequent decision that he was therefore under an “obligation to accomplish some work of public interest,” according to the official stewards’ document.

The 26-year-old said the F-word in his response to a journalist question, on a day in which FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had called for the broadcast of drivers swearing to be curtailed.

When he was asked directly about the push to ban swearing, Verstappen came out vehemently against the suggestion, saying: “What are we, five year olds?”

What exactly Verstappen will be required to do for his punishment remains unclear, but the reigning drivers’ champion admitted he was “quite surprised” his use of language came to anything.

“Is it something personal? I don’t concern myself with that and I don’t want to waste my energy on that,” the 61-time grand prix winner said to Dutch Newspaper De Telegraaf.

“When they read this to me, I was quite surprised. I will have to attend something, maybe via laptop. A conference, or something…”

Outrage over bad language ‘bizarre’

The sanction comes on an already difficult weekend for Verstappen and Red Bull.

The Marina Bay Street Circuit is has been an Achilles’ heel for the team in recent season and with the RB20 struggling considerably of late, particularly over kerbs and bumps, the outlook for the Milton Keynes squad is not promising.

The weekend has started in ominous fashion for the Dutchman. After finishing FP1 fourth-fastest, he struggled through FP2, ending the second practice hour in P15.

And having already lost its constructors’ championship lead to McLaren, Verstappen is targeting merely extending his drivers’ title advantage and does not believe this latest distraction deserves his time.

“It might be better if I don’t say anything about it. Because everything I say about it doesn’t really deserve any attention. I think it’s all bizarre,” he said whilst walking through the paddock back to Red Bull’s hospitality.

Coincidentally, the frenzy around his use of language came after Kevin Magnussen, on his F1 return following a race ban, claimed he was ready to “fuck shit up”, for which he received no punishment for.

“But he didn’t say that in the press conference, that’s apparently the difference,” Verstappen argued.

“But here [in the paddock] we can apparently swear. So next time you don’t have to ask me anything in the press conference and then we can tell our story here.”