Steiner links Verstappen's community service to Hamilton's jewellery saga

Emotion is part of the sport, the 59-year-old Italian believes. He, therefore, finds it a bit strange that the FIA called on drivers to swear less over the team radio: "In the race, when they are over the radio, I can fully understand it, because the adrenaline must be high. You see where you are. Somebody does something stupid. Obviously, the FOM know about that, but what you say there, you don't mean it. You don't take that home with you. You say it."

Steiner believes the FIA should not be alarmed by the swearing, as FOM is very good at bleeping it out. "People obviously know when they're bleeping out what the guy said. They're bleeping out rude words normally, one with S and one with F. There's no secret to that one. They are not bleeping out anything else. I don't think it was necessary to make such a big thing out of it."

Lewis Hamilton and earrings

The former team boss draws comparisons with an earlier row over jewellery in Formula 1. This happened in 2022. The FIA stood their ground and said Lewis Hamilton was not allowed to wear earrings during F1 sessions. "We are in 2024. I mean, that is what I try to recognise. Somebody wearing an earring, could I care less?"

This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton