Verstappen Shares His Opinion On Swearing Issue: 'Are We 5-Year-Olds?'

Friday, 20 September 2024 at 14:00

Max Verstappen hit back at the FIA after the organization's latest push to limit drivers' use of offensive language on team radios.

Formula 1 has been quite a unique sport in a way because fans who watch at home can hear what each driver says to his team all the time.

Naturally, when flying around a circuit at super high speeds pumped with adrenaline, F1 drivers don't always watch their language and may use offensive language.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has recently confirmed that the FIA has been pressuring Formula One Management to limit the use of foul language in live broadcasts.

While F1 already bleeps out all the offensive language, the president of FIA would still like to reduce the amount that fans hear on the broadcast.

Sulayem has also been pressuring drivers to limit their use of swear words on team radios and during interviews. Speaking to the media at Marina Bay Street Circuit ahead of the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Max Verstappen shared what he thinks about FIA's efforts:

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"It's just probably a bit the world that we live in, within the sport, but also [in] general, it seems like people are a bit more sensitive to stuff."

"That's how it goes. I guess the world is changing a bit, but I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it, or not giving the option for people to hear it."

"That will help a lot more than putting bans on drivers. For example, I couldn't even say the F word. It's not even that bad. The car was not working [in Baku]; the car is F'd."

Verstappen's response to the warning during the FIA press conference:

During the FIA's official press conference on Thursday, September 19th, the triple World Champion used the F-word to describe the car problems he faced in the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The host, Tom Clarkson, then reminded the 26-year-old to watch his language. As reported by RacingNews365, Verstappen addressed this warning when speaking to the media later on:

"Yeah, excuse me for the language but come on, like, what are we, five-year-olds, six-year-olds?"

"Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching, they will eventually swear anyway, even if the parents want or they will not allow it, when they grow up, they will walk around with their friends and they will be swearing, so this is not changing anything."

"I think you will swear anyway. If it's not in this room, maybe somewhere else. Everyone swears. Some people a bit more than others - it also depends a bit what language you speak."

"Of course, abuse is something else. I think a lot of things get broadcasted nowadays where in other sports, you don't run around with a mic [microphone] attached to you."

"A lot of people say a lot of bad things when they are full of adrenaline in other sports, [it] just doesn't get picked up."

In the end, Max Verstappen reiterated his main point: If the FIA wants to limit the use of swear words, it should do so on the broadcast and not pressure drivers to adjust their language.

"We're here, probably for also entertainment purposes, things get sent out, and that's why people can pick up on it, discuss it on social media, and you get all sorts of trouble."

"So,I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it. If you don't broadcast it, no-one will know, only the team. With that, you can deal internally with these kind of things."