Grand Prix winner turned FIA steward, Johnny Herbert has explained why Max Verstappen was hit with a community service order in Singapore.

Less than 24 hours after FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem called on the sport to end the practice of drivers swearing in public, the three-time world champion was up before the Singapore stewards for uttering the F-word during the official Thursday press conference.

Hit with a community service order, Verstappen all but refused to speak at Saturday's post-qualifying press conference and instead subsequently held court with reporters in the paddock.

Pole man, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, who qualified third, both agreed with Verstappen's stance on the issue, the seven-time world champion advising the Red Bull driver to ignore the penalty, as he would were he to be censured.

"At the press conference in Singapore, Max used the 'F' word about his car," explained Herbert to CasinoHawks. "The press conferences are beamed around the world.

"There is more swearing than there ever has been," he continued. "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," he insisted. "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. 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," said the Briton. "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.

"It did not go down very well with the drivers who were antagonised, especially Lewis who felt it was a racial slur," admitted Herbert. "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," said Herbert. "You can't do 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.

"There are many youngsters around the world who love the sport and worship the drivers. Drivers have to understand that they are role models," said the three-time grand prix winner. "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."