Horner uses Royal family to defend Verstappen in FIA swearing controversy

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes the FIA could have dealt with Max Verstappen's swearing controversy "slightly differently".

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is keen to see a reduction of swearing by F1 drivers and wants broadcaster FOM to limit the number of radio transmissions featuring profanities on the world feed.

During the Thursday drivers' press conference, Verstappen used the word "f****d" to describe his Red Bull after set-up changes made before qualifying the week before in Azerbaijan, which earned a trip to the stewards for a possible breach of the International Sporting Code. 

The three-time F1 champion was found guilty and subsequently handed community service. He staged a protest by refusing to fully answer questions in the post-qualifying press conference, instead staging an impromptu media huddle in the paddock.

Verstappen did so again after the race where he revealed the situation could make him quit F1 early. 

Horner felt a different approach from the FIA could have worked, and pointed to the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as an example. 

"I think Max has made his feelings clear on it," Horner told media including RacingNews365. "Of course, all these drivers are role models, but language that's used in everyday life, I think it would have been perhaps better dealt with slightly differently

"It would have avoided any awkwardness.

"He is a driver for whom English is not his native tongue, and we've seen members of the Royal Family telling photographers to 'take a f***ing photo,' so reactions need to be relative."