Max Verstappen has put himself at risk of incurring another punishment from the FIA after expressing his frustration during the post-qualifying press conference at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver will start Sunday’s race on the front row alongside George Russell, just two weeks after a controversial collision with Russell left Verstappen narrowly avoiding a race ban by one penalty point.
The tension between the two drivers spilled over during the session, especially when questions arose about the possibility of aggressive moves at the first corner. Verstappen responded sharply, telling the media that the focus on his existing penalty points was “really pissing [him] off,” a statement that could lead to a fine depending on the FIA’s interpretation of their swearing rules in controlled settings like press conferences.
The Role of FIA’s Updated Language Policy in Verstappen’s Case
During the press conference, Verstappen said,
“I don’t need to hear it again, It’s really pissing me off. You speaking about it, on Thursday…it’s such a waste of time. It’s very childish.”
—Max Verstappen
This incident highlights the FIA’s revised approach to handling offensive language. The governing body has recently adjusted penalties, distinguishing between language used in “uncontrolled environments,” such as during races, and “controlled environments,” like interviews or press briefings. While harsher penalties once applied broadly, current regulations tend to be more lenient depending on context.
However, the precise threshold for what constitutes punishable language remains unclear. For example, if another driver, like George Russell, were to use a mild expletive such as “bloody stupid” during an FIA-supervised media session, would that warrant a warning? Historically, even heated comments exchanged by drivers such as David Coulthard and Mike Hakkinen have fallen into a mild category under Ofcom’s broadcast guidelines, which class ‘pissed off’ as unlikely to cause concern in most contexts.
Given these guidelines, Verstappen might escape sanction for his outburst, assuming the FIA follows a similar standard. Yet, considering Verstappen’s previous disputes with racing authorities, the outcome remains uncertain and subject to how strictly the FIA applies its rules in this instance.
Context Around Verstappen’s Recent Run-Ins and Potential Consequences
This latest episode adds to Verstappen’s ongoing tensions with officials and fellow drivers this season. As he and George Russell prepare for a tense restart on race day, Verstappen’s candid remarks underscore the pressure he faces, both on and off track. The possibility of a €5,000 fine looms if the FIA deems his language inappropriate in a controlled setting, further complicating his campaign following a near race ban just weeks earlier.
The implications extend beyond just Verstappen’s pocket, as his behavior and penalties could influence FIA policing of driver conduct in press environments moving forward. How the FIA handles Verstappen’s comments may set a precedent in applying their updated swearing policy amid rising tensions in Formula 1’s competitive landscape.
