Max Verstappen has fired back at the FIA’s attempt to crack down on swearing in Formula One, suggesting the governing body is being overly sensitive and fighting a losing battle. The reigning world champion’s comments come after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem compared drivers to foul-mouthed rappers and called for a reduction in swearing on television, stating that the sport shouldn’t be filled with ‘dirty language’ that children might hear.
Verstappen, known for his fiery personality, was asked about Ben Sulayem’s comments moments after using the ‘F-word’ himself during an FIA press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix to describe the state of his car. The Red Bull driver argued that the FIA’s approach is misguided and that swearing is a common part of many sports.
“Everyone swears, some people a bit more than others,” Verstappen observed. “It also depends a bit on what language you speak. Of course, abuse is something else… but I think a lot of things get broadcast nowadays where in other sports you don’t run around with a mic 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. Where here, probably also for entertainment purposes, things get sent out.”
Instead of banning swearing, Verstappen proposed a simple solution: stop broadcasting team radio entirely. He argued that the sport could avoid the issue of foul language altogether by simply not airing these conversations. “It’s just probably a bit the world that we live in… I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it or not giving the option for people to hear it,” he said. “Of course, there are a lot of apps where people can listen to radios and stuff. You have to probably limit it, or have a bit of a delay, that you can censor out a few things. That will help a lot more than putting bans on drivers.”
Verstappen’s response was met with a mixture of agreement and amusement among fans and pundits alike. Some applauded his frankness and pointed out the hypocrisy of the FIA attempting to censor language in a sport known for its adrenaline-fueled competition. Others found humor in the irony of the champion using the very word he was criticizing the FIA for trying to eliminate.
Ultimately, Verstappen’s comments highlight the ongoing tension between the desire for a cleaner, family-friendly image and the reality of the competitive, sometimes aggressive nature of Formula One. Whether the FIA will adopt a more practical approach or continue its fight against swearing remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the debate about language in Formula One is not going away anytime soon.
