Frustrated Verstappen bites back after language warning: 'How old are we?'

Earlier in the day, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem spoke out over the controversy surrounding Formula 1 drivers swearing over the team radio during a Grand Prix. Verstappen commented on the topic after a question was asked on the subject during the press conference.

When a question was asked about swearing not much later, the Dutchman briefly returned to it: "I mean, it's not even that bad, right? I mean, the car was not working. The car is f’d [f****d]. And then, excuse me for the language. Like, come on. What are we? Five-year-olds, six-year-olds? Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old that is watching, they will eventually swear anyway. Even if the parents won't, or they will not allow it, when they grow up, they will walk around with their friends, and they will be swearing. So, you know, this is not changing anything," Verstappen said.

Verstappen disagrees with Ben Sulayem's statement

According to Verstappen, emotions are part of the sport. "I think you will swear anyway. If it's not in this room, maybe somewhere else, everyone swears. Some people a bit more than others, it also depends a bit what language you speak. Of course, abuse is something else, but I think a lot of things get broadcasted nowadays, where in other sports, you don't run around with a mic attached to you. I think 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," the Dutchman said during the press conference in Singapore. 

Instead, Verstappen proposed an alternative solution. "We're here probably for entertainment purposes. Things get sent out, and that's why people can pick up on it, discuss it on social media, and you get all sorts of trouble. I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it. I mean, if you don't broadcast it, no one will know, only the team. But with that, you deal internally with these kind of things. It's just probably the world that we live in," he added.

"Within the sport, but also in general, it seems like people are a bit more sensitive to stuff. That’s how it goes. I mean, I guess the world is changing a bit, but I think it already just starts with not broadcasting it or not giving the option for people to hear it in general. 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."

Tsunoda draws comparison with other sports

Much like Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda is also known for his use of foul language over the radio. "I think, definitely sensitive. We have radio systems, so that's why the broadcasts get to accidentally maybe show the swear word on the TV. I'm sure if you mic'd up every other sport, in football, if you mic'd up every player, or basketball or whatever, they're all swearing, I guess. So, I mean, just because there's radio and things, that's why," the VCARB driver explained.

"It's a part of, I would say, the personality, but obviously the certain words that obviously will reach above the limit, it happens to me this year. But yeah, it's just part of the way that you express the feeling. So, I mean, I don't see why there's an issue. And, yeah, it's just I'm sure those even FIA people do this sometimes, right?" Tsunoda concluded. 

This article was written in collaboration with Jeroen Immink.