Verstappen receives penalty verdict after FIA ‘stupid idiots’ remark
Max Verstappen will not receive a punishment from the FIA for referring to them as “stupid idiots” during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, according to Motorsport.com.
The four-time world champion made the remark directed at the Abu Dhabi stewards after he received a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision.
Verstappen made contact with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on the opening corner of the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit, sending both drivers into a spin.
A gap was left on the inside of the first corner by Piastri; however, Verstappen veered wide and went into the side of the Australian driver.
It did not impact McLaren’s F1 title hopes, as Lando Norris secured the Woking-based team the constructors’ crown with victory in Abu Dhabi.
Ahead of the FIA revealing it would not penalise Verstappen for his latest radio antics, Grand Prix Drivers’ Association president Alex Wurz had noted his belief that no punishment would be awarded.
“I would expect in these situations that the stewards or the FIA president himself would pick up the phone and talk to him,” Wurz told Formel1.de.
“You can talk to Max well. You have to give him time and then he will talk to you. Ultimately he wants to do the right thing.”
Must be a limit
Since the season finale, Verstappen has discovered what his community service will entail for swearing during an FIA press conference in Singapore, which he will undertake ahead of this Friday’s FIA prize-giving ceremony.
Verstappen will work with young Rwandan drivers who are part of the grassroots development programme organised by the Rwanda Automobile Club.
Whilst Wurz believed a penalty was not required for Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi radio incident, the Austrian does believe that there are limits to what can be said by a driver without the governing body intervening.
“On the one hand, we want to see an authentic sport and we want to get to know the drivers,” added Wurz. “They should be able to be themselves. That’s cool, good and exactly what we want.
“But we also have a social responsibility for the people and children who are watching at home. We are a role model, but we should not hide behind clichés.
“The rawness is beautiful and the dividing line [between good and bad] is very thin. The responsibility [to determine that line] lies with the FIA.”
