Verstappen hits back at FIA on swearing issue: 'What are we, five year olds?'

Max Verstappen has delivered a blunt response over FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's desire to curtail the amount of swearing broadcast via team radio in F1.

The Dutchman questioned the logic behind trying to prohibit drivers from using bad language, after Ben Sulayem revealed the governing body he presides over is looking into reducing the number of radio communications broadcast containing potentially offensive messages - something the three-time F1 champion would welcome.

Verstappen himself used the F-word - prior to his comments on swearing - in the Thursday FIA drivers' press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix, for which he was reminded to "watch his language" by host Tom Clarkson.

When asked for his input on Ben Sulayem's desire to curb swearing, the Red Bull driver told media including RacingNews365: "It's just probably a bit the world that we live in, within the sport, but also [in] general, it seems like people are a bit more sensitive to stuff.

"That's how it goes. I guess the world is changing a bit, but I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it, or not giving the option for people to hear it.

"Of course, a lot of apps where people can listen to radios and stuff, you have to probably limit this, or have a bit of a delay [so] that you can censor out a few things.

"That will help a lot more than putting bans on drivers. For example, I couldn't even say the F word. It's not even that bad. The car was not working [in Baku]; the car is F'd."

The 26-year-old went on to address his prior warning from Clarkson directly, adding: "Yeah, excuse me for the language but come on, like, what are we, five-year-olds, six-year-olds?

"Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching, they will eventually swear anyway, even if the parents want or they will not allow it, when they grow up, they will walk around with their friends and they will be swearing, so this is not changing anything."

Not broadcasting offensive messages is the solution

The frequency in which F1 drivers use expletives has come under increasing scrutiny of late, and Verstappen has found himself caught in the midst of media storms over his radio conduct, including after the Hungarian Grand Prix when he was deemed to have crossed a line by some.

However, the 61-time grand prix winner was quick to draw a distinct line between foul language and abuse, arguing that the solution to the entire issue is to broadcast fewer messages with extreme language.

"I think you will swear anyway. If it's not in this room, maybe somewhere else. Everyone swears. Some people a bit more than others - it also depends a bit what language you speak," stated Verstappen.

"Of course, abuse is something else. I think a lot of things get broadcasted nowadays where in other sports, you don't run around with a mic [microphone] attached to you.

"A lot of people say a lot of bad things when they are full of adrenaline in other sports, [it] just doesn't get picked up.

"We're here, probably for also entertainment purposes, things get sent out, and that's why people can pick up on it, discuss it on social media, and you get all sorts of trouble.

"So,I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it. If you don't broadcast it, no-one will know, only the team. With that, you can deal internally with these kind of things."