Steiner criticises FIA for Verstappen's F-word penalty

Later in the same press conference, Verstappen strongly criticized the ban on swearing, saying: "Excuse me for the language but come on, what are we? Five-year-olds? Six-year-olds?"

He added, "I mean even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching, they will eventually swear anyway even if their parents won't 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," said the triple world champion.

Verstappen was then called in by the stewards.

FIA officials, including former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, determined that Verstappen's language was "coarse, rude or may cause offence," and imposed a penalty for him to "accomplish some work of public interest."

In their statement, the stewards noted that Verstappen had apologized and explained that the word he used was "ordinary" for him and not his "native language."

"While the stewards accept that this may be true, it is important for role models to learn to be mindful when speaking in public forums, in particular when not under any particular pressure," the FIA added.

After Friday's practice, Verstappen was asked by F1TV about the penalty, to which he replied, "I have no words for it," before walking away.

Later, when questioned by De Telegraaf's Erik van Haren, he reiterated, "It might be better if I don't say anything about it. Anything I say about it doesn't even deserve the attention."

"I think it's all bizarre," the 26-year-old quipped.

Another reporter mentioned that Kevin Magnussen had also sworn while speaking to the media on Thursday, to which Verstappen responded, "He didn't say it in the press conference, that's apparently the difference. So apparently we can swear here," Verstappen laughed.

"Next time, don't ask me anything in the press conference and then we can say what happened here."

When asked if he believed the FIA's penalty was personal, Verstappen said, "I don't concern myself with that, and I don't want to waste my energy on it either. But when they told me, I was quite surprised."

"Apparently I have to attend something, perhaps with a laptop. A conference or something," the Dutchman remarked.

Gunther Steiner, who is known for his extremely colourful language in the popular Netflix series Drive to Survive, was also asked about the swearing controversy while in Singapore by Bild newspaper.

"I think there are more important things for the FIA to improve than banning swear words and body jewellery," Steiner said.

When pressed about the penalty, Steiner concluded, "No, that is excessive."

ID:553493:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect2955: