Rally stars follow 'Verstappen example' after FIA clampdown

Eight-time World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier has explained his behaviour in a media session as being "told by the top of the FIA to shut our mouths" after Max Verstappen's Singapore protest.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is keen to see a reduction in the number of radio transmissions broadcast by FOM that feature swearing, announcing the plan just before the Singapore Grand Prix. 

However, during the official FIA Press Conference on Thursday, Verstappen described his car as "fucked" when asked to talk through set-up changes made before qualifying for the previous race in Azerbaijan.

Host Tom Clarkson asked Verstappen to mind his language, and he did not swear again, but was summoned by the stewards for a possible breach of the International Sporting Code, for which he was found guilty.

The triple world champion was handed community service, which Lewis Hamilton branded as a joke and called on Verstappen to boycott - as Verstappen then refused to answer questions in detail in the post-qualifying conference, instead holding an impromptu media scrum in the paddock, doing so again after the race.

He indicated that the saga could hasten his retirement from F1, with Ogier giving similarly curt answers at Rally Chile, after being handed a suspended €30,000 fine for comments made to officials at Rally Greece.

Ogier follows Verstappen example

"You realise that I didn’t really want to talk, we’ve been told that we shouldn’t at the moment,” Ogier when speaking to RallyTV.

"It is not a fantastic reaction to do what I do and it is not personal against you [the interviewer], and for the fans, I am sorry about it but we have very little tools we can use.

"I don’t feel like I want to talk and like I say, I am sorry for all the people that deserve better than that, but we have been told by the top of the FIA to shut our mouths so it is a bit sad.

"It is not only in rally at the moment but let’s see what the future brings."

Ogier has been joined in the protest by 2019 champion Ott Tanak, with Ogier currently third in the standings on his usual part-time season with three wins, with Tanak in second place. 

The world rally standings are currently led by Belgium's Thierry Neuville with Rally Chile, Central European Rally and Rally Japan set to conclude the season - with Neuville looking for his maiden WRC title.