Road Rage among Professionals: They Swear at Fellow Drivers - and Face Consequences
From the Starting Grid to the Speaker's Podium: F1's Four-Letter Conundrum
Unveil your earplugs, racing fans, as the tension-filled world of Formula One racing delves into a heated debate – should your favorite drivers be penalized for dropping the F-bomb?
Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion for the Red Bull Racing squad, has found himself in hot water after letting loose with an offending adjective during a press conference last fall. Upon demonstrating his disappointment with his car, Max let slip, "As soon as I went into qualifying, I knew the car was - you know what." A penalty soon followed, with race stewards citing his appreciation for the vernacular exchange in pit-stops.
Amid the scrutiny, Scholars of the English language may wonder: did Max learn the acidic expression while glancing at his technicians' tire notes or listening to the strategist's game-changing calls? Nay, perhaps the commentators were more preoccupied with warnings like "car coming through!", as opposed to quoting chapters from 'The Taming of the Shrew'.
Stewards seemed appalled at Max's audacity, reminding him that, despite his commanding presence on the track, "it is important for role models to learn to be mindful when speaking in public forums." Such a cautionary message was later echoed during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where Max felt stifled about addressing a five-second penalty that cost him the race by a mere 2.8 seconds.
The FIA's crackdown on profanity has resulted in fines and point deductions, earning criticism from drivers. At the helm of these enforcement efforts stands FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. While he considers potential leniency with these penalties, he maintains the sport's core focus: to keep those engines roaring and drivers racing.
In case you're amongst the millions pondering, "What other choice do we racers have when another competitor sideswipes us on the track at 200 mph?", the FIA might propose a saccharine alternative: "Care for a cup of tea and crumpets, old bean? Best be on our way!"
If the race stewards genuinely wish to excise swearing from Formula One racing, they may consider insulating drivers in bubble helmets lined with minions, or even reducing them to pedaling tricycles, their laughter drowned by squeaky bells and contentious pinkies sticking out.
Sources:1. International Sporting Code (ISC), Appendix B: https://www.fia.com/regulations/sporting-regulations/code-of-sporting-regulations/international-sporting-code2. Reuters, "FIA considers easing fines for F1 swearing: president Sulayem", https://www.reuters.com/sports/motor-racing/fia-considers-easing-fines-f1-swearing-president-sulayem-2022-03-29/3. BBC, "F1 drivers: How much can they earn each race?", https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/467870784. Autosport, "FIA promises to review swearing penalties for F1 drivers", https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/fia-promises-to-review-swearing-penalties-for-f1-drivers-5489818/
Maybe Max Verstappen used a language expression familiar to sports, like a colloquial phrase often used in Formula One communication, when he uttered the offending remark during a press conference. Or perhaps he borrowed the catchphrase from the commentators who are known for their lively commentary during races. However, in handling such situations, the FIA emphasizes the importance of drivers serving as role models and being mindful of their language choices in public forums.
