- The reigning world champion was left fuming after being hit with a punishment
- Max Verstappen issued a two-word response to the FIA’s charge for swearing
- Red Bull are hoping to see Verstappen get back to winning ways in Singapore
Max Verstappen was fuming as he gave a blunt two-word response after being hit with a punishment by the FIA for swearing during a televised press conference ahead of the weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Formula One’s regulatory body are keen to clamp down on expletives, and the triple world champion has been handed an exemplary punishment by the stewards amounting to the sport’s equivalent of community service.
The Red Bull ace is facing a serious challenge to his bid for a fourth world championship title with McLaren’s Lando Norris cutting Verstappen’s lead to only 59 points with just seven races remaining.
McClaren also hold a 20 point lead in the constructors championship over Red Bull following their triumph in Baku last time out.
An agitated Verstappen described his Red Bull prior to qualifying last week in Baku as having been ‘f*****’.
Max Verstappen was fuming as he gave a blunt two-word response after being hit with a punishment by the FIA for swearing
The triple world champion has been handed an exemplary punishment by the stewards amounting to the sport’s equivalent of community service
His X-rated revelation prompted officials to summon the Dutchman to answer for his language in breach of the International Sporting Code.
The stewards determined an ‘obligation to accomplish some work of public interest’ as punishment for Verstappen but the exact nature of the penalty is to be decided. It may involve some involvement at the grassroots of the sport.
The 26-year-old cut an aggravated figure during an interview after his second full practice session on Friday afternoon, stating he had ‘no words’ in reply to the punishment handed down to him.
Verstappen admitted that his Red Bull car is struggling with grip on the Singapore street circuit
Verstappen then walked away form the press area and returned to the garage as he continues to search for ways to find competitive pace that can challenge McClaren.
Explaining Red Bull’s difficulties after practice, Verstappen told Sky Sports: ‘Yeh difficult, just not having the grip we would like, we have a few things to look at.
‘It’s less of a problem [the bumps on the track], I was already struggling with the bumps and the grip and it’s a trade-off between the two.’
Meanwhile, Verstappen has the right to appeal against the punishment handed down by the FIA but it is yet to be seen if he will do so.
