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Johnny Herbert has explained the decision-making behind Max Verstappen’s controversial penalty for swearing.
Verstappen was issued with a community service order by F1’s governing body for swearing in a live televised press conference.
It comes after an Motorsport.com exclusive interview with the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in which he urged drivers to curb their foul language.
In the article, Ben Sulayem said: “We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music. We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”
While Herbert – who was a race steward at the Singapore Grand Prix where the Dutchman swore in the press conference and was punished – says the sanction was not a direct result of Ben Sulayem’s wishes to target bad language, he has provided insight into the decision-making.
“At the press conference in Singapore, Max used the ‘F’ word about his car. The press conferences are beamed around the world,” he told CasinoHawks.
“There is more swearing than there ever has been. A press conference is not the place for it. Some journalists have said the sport is trying to make robots out of the drivers. That’s not the case. You are just asking them not to swear, which I think is the right thing. Most drivers don’t swear.
“The incident was referred to us as stewards. We had a good, open chat with Max for about 20 minutes, half an hour, in what was a difficult situation.
Johnny Herbert, former driver and FIA steward, arrives at the track
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
“You could see in his face he was really worked up about it. But when he left, he appeared to be mollified about the process and why it’s there. He did not blame us as stewards.
“As stewards, we have a range of tools to punish drivers. We are there to implement the rules and make a decision together. We could have fined him, but we felt it would be more beneficial to get him to do something socially responsible. It is up to Max and the FIA what that is.
“It all blew up afterwards because he went to the press conference and gave one-word answers then held his own impromptu press conference outside in the paddock.
“That showed Max’s rebellious streak. I love that side of him, it is what makes Max Max, his honest and outspoken character. But there is a time and a place. Personally, I think there is too much swearing. I don’t want my five-year-old grandchild listening to that sort of language.”
Herbert also admitted that Ben Sulayem’s controversial interview with Motorsport.com “did not go down very well with the drivers” and claims they were “antagonised”.
He added: “There is an FIA code about not using foul language. A week before, the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem had talked about swearing and saying F1 drivers shouldn’t swear, and they were not ‘rappers’.
“That did not go down very well with the drivers who were antagonised, especially Lewis [Hamilton] who felt it was a racial slur.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President
Photo by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images
“The drivers were not happy about it. They all bandied together with Max. I have noticed that the drivers are a much closer-knit bunch than I have seen for many years. They have much stronger opinions on issues.
“Swearing is something Ben Sulayem is wanting to stamp out. You can’t so much in the heat of the moment during a race in the car when emotion comes out.
“I hope common sense prevails on F1 drivers swearing moving forward – the drivers and FIA need to work together.
“There has to be an understanding that both sides need to work together. I know the FIA President is unhappy with foul language.
“There is an understanding among drivers that swearing at a press conference is not right. It is just something that built up from the president’s initial ‘rappers’ comment, which some found offensive, to then Max being dragged before the stewards in Singapore.”
Herbert also says that there has since been a meeting with the F1 drivers and that the exact details of the community service punishment dished out to Verstappen are yet to be agreed.
He said: “We had a meeting with the drivers afterwards when at least one, who I won’t name, made clear that in his opinion, swearing was not acceptable.
“There are many youngsters around the world who love the sport and worship the drivers. Drivers have to understand that they are role models.
“We made the decision that there was a case to answer if you like. It is between Max and the FIA to agree what the sanction should be and what it would be. That part is out of our control.”