2 days ago
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Max Verstappen has accused the Formula One governing body, the FIA, of failing to focus on the issues that matter after what he believes is an irrelevant crackdown on swearing.
The FIA recently announced rule amendments that will impose heavy fines for swearing and may even lead to race bans. Verstappen fell foul of the rules last season when he was given a community service punishment for swearing in a press conference.
Asked if he believed the FIA agenda was misjudged, the world champion’s answer was clear. “Everyone has that feeling,” Verstappen said, and he was equally emphatic over whether it was failing to focus on matters that are important to drivers. “To drivers, teams. Improvement of the sport in general.”
Verstappen was speaking at the F175 event held at London’s O2 Arena, where all 10 teams had gathered for the first time to unveil their liveries for the new season which marks the 75th anniversary of Formula One.
The 27-year-old was determined that the FIA should open a dialogue on the issue of swearing, which it has so far refused to do. “I am not going to tell you how you should behave in life,” he said. “It’s important we have a discussion about this but we need help from others, teams, promoters. We can have a proper discussion about this.”
While teams met the press in London, the FIA dropped its own bombshell announcing that it was considering imposing a mandatory number of pit stops at the Monaco Grand Prix, with “the aim of promoting better racing”.
At a meeting of the Formula One Commission on Tuesday it was agreed to consider a minimum number of stops at Monaco. The proposal will now be discussed in the next few weeks by F1’s sporting advisory committee, which will include representatives from the teams.
Monaco held its first grand prix in 1929 but has come increasingly under fire in recent years, with the width and weight of modern cars making overtaking all but impossible on the narrow streets.
The Mercedes driver George Russell, meanwhile, said he would maintain his robust approach to battling Verstappen on track this year after the pair endured a very public and bitter spat at the end of last season. Russell claimed Verstappen had threatened to put his “fucking head in the wall” and responded by accusing the Dutchman of being a bully who was incapable of dealing with adversity. The pair have not spoken since the finale in Abu Dhabi last season.
“I haven’t spoken [to him],” Russell said. “Things got out of line at the end of last year, and I made it pretty clear that I’m not going to take it.
“Now it’s 2025 and I’m focused on the job and the job is to win. So I’m not going to change my approach, fighting him, or fighting any other drivers.”
