Marko makes 'see reason' demand of FIA over Verstappen

Helmut Marko has called on the FIA to "see reason" with Max Verstappen after claiming motorsport's governing body "went in the wrong direction" by punishing him for using a f-word in an official press conference.

Verstappen was surprisingly ordered to carry out the F1 version of community service, with the FIA citing that as a role model, he was obligated to conduct himself in a manner befitting of a three-time champion.

The FIA's decision came just 11 months after Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and Ferrari counterpart Fred Vasseur were only given a formal warning for using the same expletive in a press conference ahead of last year's inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Although Red Bull driver Verstappen appeared in the post-qualifying and post-race FIA press conferences in Singapore, he chose short answers in response to questions before staging media scrums for the written press in the paddock.

Red Bull advisor Marko feels Verstappen acted appropriately and should not have been made an example of by the FIA.

"The FIA...went in the wrong direction with the penalty for Max, who used an expletive in the press conference on Thursday that is heard so often in the racing world that it is practically part of everyday language," said Marko in his latest Speedweek column.

"In addition, he used the word to describe an object, i.e. a car, and not a person."

Highlighting Haas team principal Guenther Steiner for his constant use of foul language, albeit aired via the Netflix series Drive to Survive, Marko added: "I think that the yardstick is different when you look at what Günther Steiner did, for example, without any consequences.

"The whole thing is clearly exaggerated and ridiculous, [and] I think we have completely different concerns.

"But I thought Max's reaction was very good, the way he made it clear in the press conference what he thought about it, within the permitted limits - in very brief words."

Verstappen 'needs the fun factor'

Ahead of Verstappen using the f-word in the press conference, earlier that day, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had declared that he wanted all drivers to be mindful of their language over team radio, particularly with young children watching.

Verstappen argued the use of bad language, particularly during practice, qualifying and race sessions is hard to control given the emotions at any given time for a driver.

The Dutchman's use of the f-word was aired in a more controlled environment, although was not being broadcast live to the general public.

Defending Verstappen again, Marko added: "It was argued that it happened in a press conference held in the afternoon. But you have to allow the emotions. Or if you're so moralistic, you can just bleep out the relevant statements.

"In general, Formula 1 is an emotionally charged sport in which it is part of the culture that drivers express their emotions according to their temperament.

"As a team, we can't do much about it, we can only hope that the sports authorities will see reason."

Verstappen became so exasperated with the situation towards the end of the weekend that he indicated he could quit F1 sooner than planned if he and his fellow drivers continue to be turned into "robots".

Marko said: "You can't take the joy out of the drivers' work by having too many rules. Max needs the fun factor and the knowledge that the sport he does can also be done with joy.

"I myself am also a fan of the old English saying 'let them race'."