Tsunoda in 'nicer person' claim after FIA swearing controversy

Yuki Tsunoda has expressed surprise at his own lack of swearing in the Singapore Grand Prix as he tries to become a "nicer person."

The Japanese racer has become renowned for using expletive-laden language over the team radio, with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem keen for F1 to reduce the broadcasting of profanity on the world feed. 

During the Singapore weekend, Max Verstappen swore in the Thursday drivers' press conference at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, and was subsequently summoned and penalised by being handed community service. 

Verstappen then effectively staged a protest in the post-qualifying press conference before freely answering questions outside of the press conference room in a media huddle, with old title rival Lewis Hamilton even calling him on to boycott the penalty. 

Although Ben Sulayem's hoped-for crackdown relates to the broadcasting of swear words, Tsunoda himself is hopeful of keeping himself in check. 

"Probably, I was not energetic enough to swear, it was pretty tough in the car, but maybe I've become a nicer person," Tsunoda said when pushed by RacingNews365 for his take on the situation.

"I am surprised I didn't swear. The main focus is not swearing in the car, but anywhere, it is not just about the FIA, it is in general. 

"It is something I have to improve [but I was] pretty surprised [Verstappen got a penalty]."

Tsunoda's own blame

The main area of concern for Tsunoda in the race was getting stuck behind team-mate Daniel Ricciardo following his pit-stop, and wanting to be let through. 

Tsunoda was eventually waved through by the Australian after tense exchanges on the radio with engineer Ernesto Desiderio, complaining of the tyres becoming damaged whilst behind Ricciardo. 

He would go onto finish 12th - but blamed himself for costing the team points after a botched start from eighth on the grid.

"I had a fresh tyre, he had 20 laps old tyres, and I knew that I could try to overtake or at least get close to P11," he explained.

"It took a bit of time and in these hot temperatures, you don't want to waste the tyres and it is especially bad here with the dirty air. 

"So I was a bit frustrated, but still for myself, I shouldn't have lost the positions at the start. That is on my back."