Di Grassi defends Verstappen after 'completely wrong' FIA penalty

Lucas di Grassi has defended Max Verstappen following the Dutchman's punishment for swearing, with the Brazilian believing the FIA are regulating several topics in a manner that is "completely wrong". 

Verstappen has received significant support after receiving an obligation by the governing body to complete community service, for swearing in the Thursday FIA press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. 

The three-time F1 world champion told media during the press conference that his car was "fucked" in Azerbaijan, triggering action from the FIA. 

Di Grassi himself rarely uses the radio nowadays during Formula E races and is also conscious that his own children watch the action. 

However, the veteran points out that foul language is regularly heard in pop music and in football matches, with the key difference being whether a driver is swearing as a result of showing raw emotion.

"I have two young kids, and I try to cut my swearing as much as I can on my own," Di Grassi told RacingNews365 in an exclusive interview. "Actually myself, I'm very quiet on the radio, very quiet. 

"I don't speak much in the races, so I wouldn't have that problem. But there is also this side of showing emotions. 

"If you are in a football game [for example], the lyrics of the some of the songs that we currently hear, like pop music, there is also a lot of swearing in this. 

"So I think it's maybe a bit harsh giving like community service if you swear, it's something that I don't agree with, and I don't think it's a good thing to try to be so harsh."

Teams 'naturally' discuss driver language

It is not just Verstappen who has been punished following the FIA's clampdown on the use of foul language, with eight-time World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier being handed a suspended €30,000 fine. 

Ogier was fined following comments he made to officials earlier this month on the opening stage of the Acropolis Rally Greece.

Like Verstappen, Ogier opted against giving detailed answers to reporters in response to his punishment during last weekend's Rally Chile – Verstappen did speak to media in an impromptu media scrum following qualifying and the race in Singapore. 

As interestingly highlighted by Di Grassi, a driver's team or sponsors should be the ones informing a driver if they have said something unprofessional, rather than the FIA. 

"I think naturally if you have a driver that over swears and does not represent well the brands that he stamps on his chest, the brands and the team naturally will say, 'Look, you're not representing our vision, our culture, our mission of the brands in a good way or the team in a good way'," he added.

"I think it's much more something that the team will incentivise the driver to be more polite or to behave in a certain way, then the FIA trying to give you fines or community service because of swearing. 

"So I think it's a good thing that the teams will do that naturally. Some emotions are very important. 

"The FIA regulating the way they are regulating on this and many other topics, I think it's completely wrong and should not be their job to do that."