Verstappen swearing penalty triggers F1 driver meeting

Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) chairman Alex Wurz has confirmed that the F1 drivers will meet "internally" to discuss Max Verstappen's FIA punishment for swearing. 

Verstappen received an obligation from the FIA to complete a day's public service, for swearing during last Thursday's FIA press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. 

The reigning world champion swore just hours after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem called for drivers to refrain from using foul language over the team radio. 

In response to the punishment which was announced after first practice, Verstappen opted against giving detailed answers during the post-qualifying and post-race press conferences and instead agreed to hold an impromptu media scrum on Saturday and Sunday. 

During the media scrum after the race on Sunday at the Marina Bay Circuit, the 26-year-old revealed to select media including RacingNews365, that he has the support of other drivers in the GDPA WhatsApp group.

“Yeah, for sure," revealed Verstappen. "Of course, I wrote in the GPDA [chat] the ruling, and everyone was almost laughing like, 'what the hell is that' basically. So, yeah, it is very, very silly.”

Verstappen punishment 'too severe'

Verstappen also has the support of Wurz, who questioned how many community service sanctions former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner would have received.

Steiner was often heard swearing on Netflix's F1 docu-series Drive to Survive, a point raised by the GDPA chairman. 

Ultimately, as confirmed by Wurz, the GDPA will meet to discuss whether it wants to speak to the FIA and its president. 

“How many lifetime community services would Guenther Steiner have to serve for using the F-word?” Wurz told Formel1.de. “He was glorified for using the F-word.

“Netflix broadcast this worldwide, no problem. But then to suddenly change like that?

“I have to say: [the choice of words] is not my personal taste as a driver. As GPDA chairman, I have to officially say that we will, of course, discuss it internally, first reach a full consensus, and then we will consider whether and in what form we will talk to the FIA and the president.”

Wurz is keen for the issue to be resolved internally rather than through the media, although he too believes Verstappen's punishment from the governing body goes too far. 

“Personally, I always believe, and we also do this at the GPDA: we solve it internally,” Wurz said. “We don't go through the media.

“Very rarely does something go from the GPDA to the media because we simply try to solve things internally for the sake of the sport and want to bring the people and the individual key stakeholders on our journey together.

“I think drivers have to be allowed to express themselves authentically to some extent. Of course, it shouldn't be personally offensive, and it shouldn't be discriminatory either. They've all come a long way in that regard. So, for me personally, the penalty is too severe.”