Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner believes his star driver Max Verstappen has “made his feelings clear” to the FIA over a swearing conflict that occurred at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.
Verstappen has been ordered to complete a day’s community service for using the f-word during last Thursday’s Singapore GP press conference.
The Dutchman’s retaliation to the punishment was almost immediate and Verstappen was tight-lipped in subsequent press conferences for the remainder of the weekend.
Instead, Verstappen held separate conversations with the media outside of the FIA’s gaze, implying he was even considering his future in F1.
Speaking on the row, Horner believed Verstappen’s actions had laid out his views on the matter abundantly.
“I think Max has made his feelings clear on it,” said Horner.
“Of course, all these drivers are role models, but language that’s used in everyday life, it would have been perhaps better dealt with, you know, slightly differently, which would have avoided any awkwardness.
“I’m not sure how much he’s talking in the FIA press conference now, but I assume it’s relatively little.”
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Horner was then asked if Red Bull had asked Verstappen to refrain from using swear words over team radio.
“No,” Horner responded.
“Look, [there’s a] difference between a press conference and in the car.
“But for a driver whose English is not his native tongue… How many examples you know, we’ve seen members of the royal family telling photographers to take a fucking photo.
“Reactions need to be relative.”
What did Max Verstappen say to land himself in trouble with the FIA?
In the wake of the FIA announcing it would clamp down on driver swearing, Verstappen landed himself in hot water last Thursday.
The remarks that got him in trouble specifically related to a question regarding Red Bull’s performance in the Azerbaijan GP at Baku.
“So as soon as I went into qualifying, I knew the car was f***ed,” the Dutchman said.
In that very same press conference, Verstappen was asked his thoughts on swearing in the F1 paddock and in front of the media.
“I mean the car was not working, the car is f-ed, yeah,” he said.
“Excuse me for the language but come on, what are we? Five-year-olds six-year-olds?
“Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching I mean they will eventually swear anyway even if their parents won’t or they will not allow it.
“When they grow up they will walk around with their friends and they will be swearing. So you know this is not changing anything.”
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