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Wolff backs Verstappen: 'We all know each other, it's not the worst thing'
- Estéban den Toom
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff stands by Max Verstappen. The Dutchman used the word 'f***ed' in Thursday's press conference in Singapore, and Verstappen was given community service for that. The Austrian stands behind Verstappen and will defend him after the Grand Prix in the Asian city-state.
Verstappen refused on Saturday and partly on Sunday to give detailed answers to the questions journalists asked him during the press conference. The reigning Formula One world champion wanted to make a statement. Wolff does not call uttering the F-word during the press conference the biggest crime ever.
Wolff defends Verstappen
Wolff and Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari's team boss, also had to visit the stewards last year for foul language. "He was a bit more worried. I said to them it's the first time since school that I was called to the headmaster and I promise it's going to be the last time. Now having said that, I think there is an argument that big swearing and being rude on the radio is not something that should happen.
"I think it's always the context in the way you say it, but we want to have emotions, we want to have raw moments, we understand that the drivers are in a state of extremes. If we can dim it down a little bit, I think that's good for all of us, but I wouldn't necessarily ban the F word," Wolff said.
Asked if Verstappen's community service is too severe, Wolff wondered who listens to the FIA during the press conference. "I don't think anybody listens to the FIA president at a press conference anyway. I mean, you listen, but it's not written about, rarely."
"It's not a big audience. We are the group. We are all part of that travelling circus. We know each other. And I don't think that using the F-word in a press conference is the worst thing... If we need to adapt, all of us adapt our language, including team principals, then we would look at it more, more civilised, I guess," Wolff added.
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