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."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by ffracer, 08/10/2024 16:36

"Also, and although I distaste some of his calls, Johnny Herbert gets a pass in my book. He might only be a three-time race winner lol... but the conditions in which he won, particularly his feet, makes his wins legendary. He was one of the quickest in late 80's F3000 until that monstrous and deadly crash at Brands, he was destined to lose his foot... fast forward to his Rio F1 debut in the Benetton, hobbling on crutches before sliding into the car, some of his mechanics were simply stunned... then when he went on to a fourth place finish, there wasn't a dry eye in the place. Still don't know how he drove the car with a stiff clutch pedal no less."

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2. Posted by ffracer, 08/10/2024 16:23

"@ superbird70 - with all due respect, and I have enjoyed your posts, that sentiment has, thankfully, no place in society any longer. While we are all entitled to give our opinion, your logic would wipe out 99%. Some who excel at the fundamentals make great teachers. Also, some great racers made amazing, brilliant journalists and commentators.

The literary genius of Pitpass, Nigel Roebuck and the late Denis Jenkinson to name a few aside, I will name someone else to throw in the ring lol. The late, great Sam Posey's commentary depiction of all things racing - epic racers, iconic races and key racing personalities - was legendary and surreal, his words left you with a lump in your throat and a warm heart or the back hairs on your neck standing on end. So visceral, they initiated the broadcasts and set the stage for Indy 500 broadcasts or other famous races. I close my eyes and I can still hear him depicting the intensity and bottled fury soon to unleash at the start. He won some amazing races in some legendary racecars but his opinion and commentary, post racer, of the best will go on in infamy. "

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3. Posted by Kemawi, 08/10/2024 8:48

"How many GP's have YOU won Superbird70 ? 😭"

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4. Posted by Editor, 07/10/2024 20:57

"@ givememychoice

Get tae phark!"

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5. Posted by givememychoice, 07/10/2024 9:54

""I don't want my five-year-old grandchild listening to that sort of language".
So many things with this. Is your 5 year old grandchild really watching the press conference?
Do you keep your 5 year old grandchild away from real life? (i have a 10 year old and a 7 year old. I try and limit their exposure, but dont block it. The older one watched Drive to survive). I suggest that they dont go anywhere near football.

Its the faux outrage that for me is so annoying. Watch DTS with gunther swearing, please watch it, he swears so much. Team radio, hmm, i choose that sweary bit to broadcast. Press conference, Oh my, somebody swore. Bleep it out. People arent that desperate for the answers that there cant be a 5 second delay to bleep stuff out. I guess there might be a 5 year old in the actual press conference. And certainly none of the journalists would ever be heard swearing....
If it was a slur, i could slightly understand, but being scottish, swearing is largely in our standard vernacular.

And compare it to the music in the charts. Thats full of swearing.
I grew up with the likes of Metallica who were singing about potential nuclear war, cancer, injustices in the system, and in the first 20 years had like 3 swears in all their songs. Now, you get all that in a nothing song."

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6. Posted by Max Noble, 07/10/2024 6:57

"@Kenji - yes the outrage when we have multiple wars raging around the planet over a single word shows a disconnect of epic proportions…"

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7. Posted by kenji, 07/10/2024 1:26

"I have recently toyed with the idea of producing an artwork for the interior of my house that fits in nicely with my current thinking. It will be constructed of neon tube that reads, WTF..I mean, REALLY...WTF! That fits neatly above the staircase mid panelling and is easy to read from many angles. As one of the most versatile words in the English language I find it odd to hear the dissonance being reflected. Surely this is part of the global 'joke'? "

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8. Posted by Max Noble, 06/10/2024 11:36

"Under my “Pharck!” Article @Eml reminded people of George Carlin, a groundbreaking American comedian. His “Seven dirty words” sketch resulted in a 1970’s legal case involving the US Federal court. A lesson in when is enough, enough? Johnny and Ben should sit down and watch that sketch together, along with the Derek and Clive Sketch about “He came up and said ‘Hello!”’. We were having this argument 50 years ago… and we are still having it now. I’d far rather someone one swore at me like a trooper, than used the swear-free statement “Execute him at dawn.” Which would be far more distressing, but cheerfully swear free…"

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9. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 05/10/2024 19:13

"What a donut.

"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.

But they're not are they? Sebastien Ogier was fined $30k for not swearing, just pointing out the failures of the stewards.

..."That showed Max's rebellious streak. I love that side of him, it is what makes Max, Max, his honest and outspoken character."

Its lies like this that they try to sell us on just after punishing them for being "what they love about them" is what's truly annoying, really, Herbert's a*sehole must be jealous of his mouth for the amount of sh*te that comes out of it.

"

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10. Posted by Superbird70, 05/10/2024 11:37

"Really, a three time race winner criticizing a three time world champion for swearing during press conference held by the pinacle of motor racing that seems incapable of using a three second time delay to censor out bad words. "

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Herbert justifies Verstappen swearing punishment

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