Max Verstappen will carry out ‘community service’ in Rwanda this month as punishment for swearing in the Singapore Grand Prix press conference.
The Dutchman got in trouble with FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem back in September after swearing in the Thursday press conference.
Verstappen was trying to describe how his car felt during the previous race in Baku, referring to the Red Bull as “f***ed”.
His comments came after Ben Sulayem caused controversy himself by demanding drivers to stop using bad language.
Max Verstappen will serve his punishment in Rwanda
REUTERS
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]”.
Lewis Hamilton was unhappy with what he perceived as a ‘racial element’ of Ben Sulayem’s comments and called them the wrong choice of words.
But Verstappen’s use of an expletive in the Singapore press conference saw him mandated to carry out ‘some work of public interest’.
It wasn’t clear at the time what form of punishment that would be, but it’s now been confirmed he will carry out the ‘community service’ in Africa this week.
Verstappen is set to be in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, for the FIA’s annual awards ceremony after winning his fourth consecutive world title this year.
But the Dutchman will also participate in a project to help junior drivers as part of a grassroots development programme organised by the Rwandan motorsport association.
It’s said that Verstappen and Ben Sulayem came to an agreement on how the punishment would be dealt with.
Max Verstappen swore in the Singapore Grand Prix press conference
PA
Verstappen will be joined by Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc at the FIA prize gala with the McLaren and Ferrari drivers finishing second and third in the Drivers’ Championship respectively.
The ceremony will take place on December 13 and will be available to watch on the FIA YouTube channel.
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Max Verstappen won his fourth world championship this year
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Verstappen ended the season in Abu Dhabi at the weekend and finished sixth with Norris taking the victory for McLaren.
The British driver’s win helped McLaren seal their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998 as Ferrari just missed out.
Hamilton also ended his career with Mercedes with a last-lap overtake on team-mate George Russell.
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