Last Updated on October 14 2024, 11:02 am

The 2024 Formula One Singapore Grand Prix will be predominately remembered for two significant instances. Firstly, it was the first time since the inaugural running of the modern event in 2008 where race control did not deploy the safety car.

Secondly, the weekend was dominated by Max Verstappen being sanctioned for swearing in the FIA press conference on Thursday. The world champion was ordered to perform a day of ‘community service’ which as yet is to be defined by the FIA.

Prior to the Grand Prix weekend, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had angered certain paddock folk when he took a stand on profanity from the drivers.

 

 

 

FIA president calls drivers “rappers”

“I mean, we have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music,” Ben Sulayem told Autosport. “We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”

The first to react predictably was Lewis Hamilton who believes the FIA president has been out to get him. Within weeks of taking office in 2021, Ben Sulayem ordered a crack down on drivers wearing jewellery whilst in the cockpit of the car.

Of course Hamilton is known for his bling appearance and he took the matter personally. The ensuing saga ran for weeks and was finally resolved when Lewis produced a medical certificate stating it could be damaging to his health if he removed his nose pin.

Hamilton too is known for his friendship with a number of ‘rap’ musicians and so Ben Sulayem’s comments were interpreted by th seven times champion accordingly.

Toyota back door F1 entry

 

 

 

Max drops the F-bomb

Max had been answering questions on the performance of his car in Baku when the world champion claimed his car was “f**ked” following a late setup change before qualifying. Host Tom Clarkson issued the standard TV presenter apology but the matter was to grow and dominate the weekend following Verstappen’s sanction.

At the remainder of the FIA mandatory press sessions Verstappen refused to answer questions in the regular fashion choosing one word answers or simply explaining he wouldn’t reply due to fear of more sanctions. Yet Max did invite the F1 journalists to a private press conference immediately following the event where he again complained about the restriction on his freedom of speech.

The row broadened and a number of the drivers backed Max in his battle with the FIA. “It is a bit of a joke, to be honest,” said Lewis Hamilton in regard to Verstappen’s penalty. “This is the pinnacle of the sport, mistakes are made. I certainly wouldn’t be doing it and I hope Max doesn’t do it.”

Lando Norris when asked, initially joked saying “he deserved it, foul language so…” When the chuckles had died down Norris added, “It is pretty unfair, I don’t agree with any of it.”

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Driver steward calls for ‘common sense’ approach

Verstappen’s initial comments were read by some as defiance against the FIA’s presidents poorly crafted example of “rappers” but one thing is certain, Verstappen won’t be constrained against his wishes at the up coming F1 weekend at COTA.

Driver steward Johnny Herbert hopes tempers have cooled in the three week break and that the drivers can on the whole refrain from using bad language. However the former F1 driver also believes the situation in Singapore may have been handled in too ‘heavy a handed’ fashion suggesting the COTA stewards should defy the latest FIA decree.

“I hope that if Max swears in a press conference at the US Grand Prix, common sense prevails,” he told CasinoHawks. “There has to be an understanding that both sides need to work together.”

Herbert appears to suggest the ‘rapper’ comment provoked the situation in Singapore. “I know the FIA president is unhappy with foul language. There is an understanding among drivers that swearing at a press conference is not right. It is just something that built up from the president’s initial ‘rappers’ comment, which some found offensive to then Max being dragged before the stewards in Singapore.”

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Herbert claims “most drivers don’t swear”

Herbert reveals the stewards had a meeting with the drivers after the event and claims at least one said swearing was “unacceptable.” The driver steward then talked about children watching F1 and the responsibility of F1 drivers to be role models.

Of course the irony of the entire saga is that Formula One chooses to broadcast drivers swearing during on track sessions. Any pit radio feeds are censored and broadcast on a delay, but its clear to the viewer what the driver actually said.

Herbert continues: “The press conferences are beamed around the world. There is more swearing than there ever has been. A press conference is not the place for it.

“Some journalists have said the sport is trying to make robots out of the drivers. That’s not the case. You are just asking them not to swear which I think is the right thing. Most drivers don’t swear.”

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Stewards have a range of punishment tools

Herbert’s assessment that most drivers don’t swear is subjective although certain individuals are famed for their cockpit red mist outbursts which can often lighten up a dull F1 race.

Johnny said that they had spoken to Max for about 20 minutes following his ‘protest’ and explained the Dutchman was genuinely incensed by the nature of his punishment.

“But when he left, he appeared to be mollified about the process and why it’s there. He did not blame us as stewards,” said Herbert. The stewards have a range of tools to punish the drivers and usually they default to the sanction of a fine.

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Unusual decision made on how to punish Max

Yet in Singapore the stewards took the unusual decision in issuing a community order penalty which appears in line with the instructions proper to the weekend from Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Herbert reveals the exact penalty will be decided by the FIA and as yet it has not been made public how that punishment will be enacted.

Johnny praises Max’s “rebellious streak” which he claims to love describing Verstapen as an “honest and outspoken character, but there is a time and a place.”

On the one hand Herbert applauds Verstappen’s anti establishment behaviour then in the next sentence asks him to reign it in. #Confused.

If the FIA have their wits about them, they will not select Max for Thursday media duties this week. After all, discretion is the better part of valour – but we shall see.

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Red Bull ‘exited’ Newey on the quiet

Much has been made of the dramatic events in Milton Keynes this season which all appeared to begin with an internal power struggle for control of the Formula One team. This saw Christian Horner accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female employee, allegations from which he was exonerated of by an investigation and then a subsequent appeal.

The Red Bull energy drinks business had been thrown into disarray following the death of founder and entrepreneur Didi Mateschitz. Austrian minority shareholders appeared to attempt a coup of the organisation until the private majority Thai shareholder stepped up to calm troubled waters.

Add to this the number of high profile individuals who have announced they are leaving the team which has coincided with the RB20’s on track performance going off a cliff and the back story gains momentum that as a team Re Bull are in trouble… READ MORE