FIA steward Johnny Herbert believes that Max Verstappen rightly received a community service penalty for his coarse language in Singapore. The former F1 driver defends the actions of the FIA and explains why the governing body decided to give the Dutchman a community service penalty instead of a fine.
Max Verstappen was the talk of the town during the Grand Prix weekend in Singapore. Not because the Dutchman drove to a commendable second place in the race on Sunday, but due to his coarse language in the press conference on Thursday. Verstappen received a community service penalty from the FIA for this action.
FIA steward and former F1 driver Herbert believes Verstappen’s penalty is justified. “The press conferences are broadcast all over the world,” Herbert states as the reason why, speaking to CasinoHawks. “There is more swearing than ever before. A press conference is not the place for that.”
Herbert therefore defends the actions of his employer, the FIA. “Some journalists have said that the sport is trying to make robots out of the drivers. That’s not the case,” says the former driver. “You’re just asking them not to swear, which I think is right. Most drivers don’t swear.”
The three-time Grand Prix winner also immediately explains how Verstappen’s community service penalty came about. “We could have fined him, but we thought it better to have him do something socially responsible. It’s up to Max and the FIA what that is,” says Herbert.
‘What Makes Max, Max’
The FIA has not yet revealed what the community service of the three-time world champion will be, but Verstappen immediately expressed his displeasure about the situation. The Dutchman barely spoke during the further press conferences in Singapore. “That showed Max’s rebellious side. I love that side of him,” Herbert praises Verstappen nonetheless. “It’s what makes Max, Max – his honest and outspoken character, but there is a time and a place.”
