Leclerc hands FIA instruction despite agreeing with swear-gate stance

Charles Leclerc has told the FIA that it has "other priorities" to be focused on after the swear-gate controversy in Singapore.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is keen to see a reduction in swearing from drivers - and which is broadcast by FOM - with F1 champion Max Verstappen handed a form of community service by the stewards after saying the f-word in the governing body's official Thursday press conference. Only hours earlier, Ben Sulayem had made his position clear.

Verstappen then refused to answer questions in the post-qualifying FIA conference, instead holding an impromptu huddle in the paddock. After the race, in another separate briefing, he hinted the saga could hasten his retirement from F1.

Lewis Hamilton branded the penalty "a joke" and urged Verstappen to boycott it, although the seven-time champion did agree with Ben Sulayem's call to reduce swearing. 

Hamilton, however, did caveat that with calling out what he saw as a "racial element" to Ben Sulayem's comparison of drivers to rappers. Future Ferrari team-mate Leclerc has also agreed with the call in theory but felt other matters were more worthy of the FIA's attention.

"I think there are other priorities for the FIA to look at, at the moment," Leclerc told media including RacingNews365. 

"We are adults at the end, and we are one of the only sports where we hear the driver speak during the actual race. 

"I would return the favour to the FIA to ask them to maybe take out some of our bad words and not broadcast it as much. It is something quite easy to do. 

"For us to control our words when you are driving a car at 300kph between walls on a street track, it is quite tricky. 

"We are humans after all, so I don't see it as much of a priority for now."