FIA steward defends Verstappen swearing punishment

FIA steward Johnny Herbert has defended the community service punishment handed to Max Verstappen for his swearing during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. 

Verstappen was called to the stewards at the Marina Bay Street Circuit for an alleged breach of the International Sporting Code after swearing in the official Thursday press conference, hours after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had called for a reduction in swearing by drivers.

The Red Bull driver was subsequently told to do community service as a punishment for his language, although Lewis Hamilton urged Verstappen to boycott the "joke" sanction in the post-qualifying press conference where Verstappen refused to engage with questions, but then held an impromptu media huddle in the paddock. 

Herbert was one of the FIA stewards in Singapore who dealt with the incident, with the three-time grand prix winner believing the punishment was justified. 

"At the press conference in Singapore, Max used the f-word about his car. The press conferences are beamed around the world. There is more swearing than there ever has been. A press conference is not the place for it," he told Casino Hawks. 

"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.

"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 my five-year-old grandchild listening to that sort of language."

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Talks with Verstappen

Recalling the discussions in the room with Verstappen, Herbert detailed how the three-time F1 champion was "mollified", and how community service was decided as the punishment and not a simple fine.

"The incident was referred to us as stewards," Herbert added. "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 is 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."