FIA Under Scrutiny: Verstappen and Russell Demand Answers

Max Verstappen condemns infantilizing language penalties while George Russell questions the FIA’s evolving political direction, demanding transparency, genuine dialogue, and clarified governance.

Max Verstappen continues to criticize the FIA’s stance on swearing, which he finds overly infantilizing. The Red Bull driver is frustrated and unable to understand the federation’s intentions or the stewards’ rationale for penalizing drivers over such matters.

“This is something I don’t like in F1,” Verstappen stated. “Of course, I understand you can’t swear in a press conference, but it was just language, it came out quickly.”

“We all grew up with that, including the people sitting there. Some say, ‘My five-year-old grandson is watching this.’ When I was five, I was also surrounded by adults who swore. My parents didn’t swear at me, of course.”

“But what do you think I was saying at school? You want to act tough with other kids. It’s part of growing up. Of course, you should watch your language, but being punished like a child makes me wonder what we’re doing in this sport.”

George Russell also struggles to understand the FIA, but his concerns are more political. The Mercedes F1 driver had already expressed unease in Abu Dhabi, questioning the federation’s direction amid ongoing dismissals under FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

When asked about the matter again, the Briton criticized the dismissal of compliance officer Paolo Basarri, questioning its implications for the federation and the power it grants Ben Sulayem, who is set to take on compliance responsibilities alongside the FIA Senate president.

“I’m not sure what’s going on in his mind, but as we said last time we discussed this, I wonder what’s next. I didn’t expect that, two weeks later, we’d be dealing with something that seems quite serious,” Russell remarked.

“I don’t really know what this governance change regarding compliance means. I don’t even fully understand what it involves, but it seems to be a significant issue. I was quite surprised to hear, ‘two weeks later, there’s something else.’ Will there be something else again in two weeks? Where does it end?”

“I think it would be beneficial for all of us to understand the FIA’s purpose and objectives. It would be great if the president could share his vision for the FIA with us, and perhaps we could see it from his perspective. Maybe then we’d have a better understanding.”