F1 News
Wolff "happy to sanction" drivers swearing even more amid Verstappen feud
Toto Wolff has backed the FIA and Mohammed Ben Sulayem on the swearing saga, saying he would be "happy to sanction that even more". This comes after he joined George Russell's Thursday press conference at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Brit responding he earlier comments made by Max Verstappen in what is turning out to be a huge feud.
At the Qatar Grand Prix, Verstappen was given a one-place grid penalty for impeding Russell on his cool-down lap during qualifying, with the Dutchman saying he "lost all respect" for the Mercedes driver after the way he behaved in the stewards' room at the Losail International Circuit.
The Brit responded back at the Dutchman's comments in multiple ways, criticising the comments Verstappen made about himself, along with how he conducts himself in and around the paddock. Along with Wolff, who also had a message to Christian Horner, calling him a "yapping little terrier."
Wolff unhappy with Verstappen after his own child caught swearing
Both Wolff and Russell were asked if the FIA would intervene with Verstappen once again, like with the swearing saga, due to some of the comments made by the Dutchman. Wolff answered, but he did not comment on whether Verstappen would be punished: "I have a thing about the swearing. Like George said, he has an 8-year-old nephew who go-karts and watches all of that. I have a similar 7-year-old that go-karts, that watches everything. It's the first time a few months ago that he [Toto’s child] said, 'What the f***'? And I said, 'Where did you hear that from?' He said, 'From the drivers.'"
As a result, the Mercedes CEO has an opinion that is far different to many in the paddock regarding the swearing saga: "I have my conflicts with Mohammed [Ben Sulayem], but in that instance, the drivers, all drivers are role models and are on air. They are entitled, empowered, and it is agreed with many other things. If you translate, the word f*** in my language is pretty rude. I would never say that on the radio. And George and I and Lewis, we had these conversations. They know I don't like it, so I'm perfectly fine, which we were able to really limit that thing. It was a handful of drivers, some native, some not, that come out with the things, and for me, I'd be happy to sanction that even more. Maybe you don't share my opinion there, but...," concluded Wolff.
Russell then commented on whether the FIA would involve themselves in the feud between himself and Verstappen: "I've no idea. I'm not looking to get Max penalised. I'm not looking for any repercussions from this. I am standing up for myself, for a guy who's coming out questioning my integrity as a person slamming me in the press and I just want to set the record straight. As I said everybody's entitled to their own opinion. But for me, he crossed a line at the weekend and that was too much."
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