FIA steward Herbert explains Verstappen’s swearing penalty

Johnny Herbert has explained the decision-making behind Max Verstappen’s controversial penalty for swearing.

Verstappen was issued with a community service order by F1’s governing body for swearing in a live televised press conference.

It comes after an Motorsport.com exclusive interview with the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in which he urged drivers to curb their foul language.

In the article, Ben Sulayem said: “We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music.
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].”

While Herbert – who was a race steward at the Singapore Grand Prix where the Dutchman swore in the press conference and was punished – says the sanction was not a direct result of Ben Sulayem’s wishes to target bad language, he has provided insight into the decision-making.


“At the press conference in Singapore, Max used the ‘F’ word about his car. The press conferences are beamed around the world,” he told CasinoHawks. 

“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.

“The incident was referred to us as stewards. We had a good, open chat with Max for about 20 minutes, half an hour, in what was a difficult situation. 


“You could see in his face he was really worked up about it. But when he left, he appeared to be mollified about the process and why it’s there. He did not blame us as stewards.

“As stewards, we have a range of tools to punish drivers. We are there to implement the rules and make a decision together. We could have fined him, but we felt it would be more beneficial to get him to do something socially responsible. It is up to Max and the FIA what that is.

“It all blew up afterwards because he went to the press conference and gave one-word answers then held his own impromptu press conference outside in the paddock.

“That showed Max’s rebellious streak. I love that side of him, it is what makes Max Max, his honest and outspoken character. But there is a time and a place. Personally, I think there is too much swearing. I don’t want…