Red Bull Content Pool
F1 News
Ben Sulayem says Verstappen was "so pleased" with community service
Mohammed Ben Sulayem has made a remarkable revelation about Max Verstappen's reaction to his community service. According to the FIA president, the Dutchman was "so pleased" when he heard what his punishment would entail.
FIA president Ben Sulayem: 'Verstappen was overjoyed with his community service'
Verstappen was given community service by stewards ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix for using the word 'f***' during the press conference. This was said shortly after Ben Sulayem indicated he wanted to crack down more severely on foul language in Formula 1. The decision caused a lot of commotion and even led to an official letter from the drivers' union GPDA to the FIA.
Ben Sulayem did say he understood that Verstappen used a swear word. "We said we need clean verbal language all the time. And of course, very young, he said one word, and then they penalised him with community service," the Emirati said in conversation with RwandaTV.
The FIA president says he eventually found a solution that even Verstappen could agree with. "So I met him in Qatar and I said, ‘Max, don’t worry. What you are going to do is you are going to encourage and inspire young girls and boys who want to go into motorsport. And you will do that, and that is your community service when you come and receive your trophy in Rwanda,'" he explained.
"And he was so happy by the way about it, and so pleased. He was so happy that when he is here, he will sit with the upcoming kids, girls and boys, to inspire them. It is a big part of the duty that a champion, an ambassador, has to give back to society. And what is better, when we talk about diversity, than him being here?", Ben Sulayem concluded.
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels too!