Should SWEARING be PENALISED in F1?

Should Max Verstappen have been penalised for swearing in the 2024 Singapore GP press conference? By now I am sure you have heard about Max Verstappen’s community service penalty- if you haven’t this penalty was a result of Max Verstappen swearing during an F1 press conference. Max didn’t take the F1 swearing penalty all to well though and refused to answer questions during the Singapore qualifying press conference and told journalists he will answer their questions outside of the room to avoid getting in trouble again. But is Max Verstappen’s swearing penalty warranted?
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[@reversal]

The only one who should be penalised is Ben Sulayem, for being the biggest clown in F1.

[@redfalcon7]

The way he presents himself after the race and every chance to be on camera is soo cringe. What a fool

[@lukasjandik3359]

Btw, have you seen his Wikipedia photo? Whats that? Wannabe Tony Stark?

[@Joe_1sr9]

Time to get rid of that fool Ben S…. He’s a disgrace to F1

[@andyelliott8027]

Having an Arab in charge of F1 is ludicrous. F1 has no background in that part of the World, and Arabs don't have a motor racing culture.They're out of they're depth, F1 needs a European leader. Arabs don't even understand the western world or it's behaviour, F1 is just a** kissing the money men...........as usual.....I despair of these idiots.

[@33cse]

Need liberty mutual and Doug to go away too

[@Sangamkr]

FIA needs to reassess their priorities. they are getting absolutely ridiculous now

[@Jacobito1977Mid]

Mohammed Ben Sulayem is killing the sport, and it really looks like a personal Bendetta against Max.

[@unthenner5519]

Mohammed Bendetta Sulayem

[@FrontWing-EndPlate]

He tried the same with Lewis over the jewellery thing!!! Looks like he's on an absolute power trip over teams/drivers

[@matthewgubbins8515]

​@@FrontWing-EndPlate and the Sussie Wolff situation

[@dennisb7317]

B for Bendetta

[@ShawnFX]

​@@unthenner5519😂😂

[@BLKBRDD]

The FIA remind me of bored council workers trying to find something to do 😅

[@abbofun9022]

Don’t forget that many drivers do not have English as their first language too. Most Dutch do not consider f*ck as particular offensive. So essentially the FIA is not very culturally sensitive.

[@KymIllman]

That is a good point

[@PaulGrubbs-dg5or]

Oh give me a break

[@Kermen16]

@@PaulGrubbs-dg5oryou the typa guy that’s scared of swear words? Stfu

[@CallieMasters5000]

Nothing worse than a non-native English speaker who thinks it's OK to say every profanity in English that they've ever heard, especially if their English is poor overall. If native English speakers are saying your English is bad, it's wrong.

[@PaulGrubbs-dg5or]

@@abbofun9022 get on Google translate

[@marcusmccall8896]

MBS needs to be pushed out of the sport with as much force as possible. He is a cancer to F1.

[@samsung40_media87]

Mr Bone Saw?

[@johnhayter4600]

With these rules in the past we would have missed some classic Raikonnenisms.

[@murraywagnon1841]

Mohammed bin Sulayem objecting to swearing is rich coming from a country with such a tarnished record of human rights violations.

[@mamavswild]

Next thing we know he’ll be throwing Hannah under a giant black sheet- this is how it STARTS.

[@porcorosso999]

FIA needs to calm the hell down. Mic'd up in the car is unbelievable access to professional athletes during their sporting event. FIA needs to go after the broadcasters not the drivers. The morality angle on this coming from the FIA doesn't really look good. And the rapper comment from FIA Ben S just showed how out of damn touch and ignorant he is.

[@brad30three]

No, they should go after NO ONE. Just grow up and get over it. So many people swear as a matter of course these days, in front of kids, etc, and it does not have any negative effect on anyone. Aside from whiny bitches, that is.

[@bigfella3243]

I’ve been watching a lot of videos on KZbin this last week about Daniel and you’ve been mentioned quite a lot

[@nobuddy1364]

The press conferences are not truly live anyway. Certainly do not need to be. Broadcasters could easily bleep it.

[@jamesnisly9537]

Kym for FIA president.

[@salpirwani]

No, Gunther! 😂

[@Howsmekowdendan]

Kimy for president.

[@erikfriesen8959]

MBS must go. He is petty and racist.

[@none3763]

All the drivers should respond with absolute silence in the FIA press briefings.

[@ath3263]

Bring religious beliefs into a sport is a joke

[@mamavswild]

That is EXACTLY what he is doing and we ALL know it. We aren’t allowed to say it! This is how it BEGINS.

[@BrenoSonduz]

Sadly F1 is no longer focussed on racing, it's all about big money, marketing and control. Bring back racing....

[@pao_2031]

You can't be serious, lol. F1 has *always* been about big money, marketing and control. You think these cars didn't have oil, alcohol and tobacco sponsor liveries back in the day? You think back in the day drivers could talk about politics and social justice and not get flak for it?

[@mamavswild]

No it’s focused on MORALITY policing- this is how it begins. Next thing we know Hannah Schmidt and the other female team members will be thrown under a giant black sheet at the ME Grands Prix- think that’s ridiculous? Ok, we will see. And btw, what is the ‘champaign they fake celebrate with there? The stuff so nasty the drivers spit it out? Exactly. This is how it begins and I already know how it will end. I see it in my own country.

[@Semtx552]

in holland you can say any of those words on public tv. its not a big deal.

[@luislaborda4347]

But they are trying to impose the stupid american standards, where you can't swear on tv... Doesn't matter if afterwords you kill someone just because...

[@1bluensx]

Bring back grid girls! Get rid of FIa president. People need to speak! Literally!

[@greenmantle87]

He might, full hijab 😂

[@dubz9409]

and V10's

[@ShawnFX]

​@@dubz9409can't bring back V10s since they want to pander to the environmentalists

[@Adogcallednoortje]

Never forget that many drivers DONT have English as there first language. Max’s Dutch is way more direct than his English.

[@jonathanschungel5219]

Since I've never been to a race in person, nor did I ever have paddock access, I can only express my opinion based on my experiences watching F1 on TV. For someone who has seen many races for many years on TV, I think Formula One has already become one of the most inauthentic sports to date. With that I mean all the shows around a Grand Prix with drivers parades, KZbin video series, a heavily edited Netflix Show and all the media fuzz around F1. The only real sincere component of F1 are its drivers with their emotions. I don't want them to be like robots, because then there is really no one to cheer for or empathize with. I think, swearing in interviews, in answers to questions or on the team radio (to a certain extent of course), is what's left of the last bit of sincerity in F1.

[@Howsmekowdendan]

I've been to races but being there makes you see less then you would on tv. I think you know enough to have decent judgement.

[@Nickxis]

It's a joke

[@soundscape26]

In a stress-free press conference like it's the case on Thursdays they should be mindful of their language, but during races there should be way more leniency as long as slurs for instance aren't used. Penalties like community service are dumb.

[@dreadlord5581]

Personally, I wouldn't call it "stress free" if I was fighting for a World Championship, my car was failing me, and in an audience of my peers and critics I was asked about said car. Max obviously feels the same. As a fan of the sport I absolutely WANT to see the real emotions of the drivers. Nobody gains gains by having them reduced to mindless, cliche spewing automatons. In the case of slurs or WANTON use - by all means fine them. That way at least the drivers will not be restricted, and the puritans in todays society will be ameliorated.

[@FabledGentleman]

His language wasn't directed towards anyone specific, this has become a total farce by the FIA. You cannot allow for racing in countries that won't even allow women basic rights, or have a ban on homosexuality, and countries that use sports like F1 to launder money, and at the same time disallow someone just saying my car is effed (sorry for the censorship). It's just shows how out of touch the leadership of this sport has become, it's hypocritical.

[@stuartroberts4353]

effing spot on!!!

[@MrKodiKash]

Great point! I need to remember this 😅

[@pao_2031]

We also shouldn't allow racing in countries that finance, sell weapons to and provide legal/diplomatic cover for their allies committing genocide - we can have a Brazil-Mexico-Japan GP and call it a year until everyone learns not to be hypocrites.

[@doghat1619]

@@pao_2031 There's a big difference between the dubious actions of for example the United States government, and nations like China with serious human rights concerns for it's populus. F1 likes to promote itself as being diverse and LGBT+ friendly, yet will happily accept millions of dollars to race in countries where homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment or death.

[@danteana5316]

What women basic rights are you referring? There's nothing wrong to not use swear words.

[@Housestationlive]

you're fucking awesome kym i love you!

[@77raymo]

Excellent response

[@Housestationlive]

@@77raymo i'm actually shocked youtube didn't censored me!

[@KymIllman]

Cheers

[@bobs_sa8480]

It’s farcical. FIA is happy to race in countries with very questionable regimes but draw the line at a swear word?! Get off your high horse. The excuse that “kids are watching” is paper thin. No kid is watching Thursday press conference. And the driver radios are very easily managed because they’re not live and can be bleeped out. Kids hear way worse on social media and TV than an errant “shit” on F1. Also multiple drivers have sworn this season with not a hint of a reprimand, if it was such an issue for the FIA it should’ve made it into a drivers briefing long ago. The fact it hasn’t and Max is suddenly hit straight with a community service penalty feels particularly discriminatory. Any grown adults offended to the extent of not watching F1 because once in a while a driver might say “fucked” needs to take a long look at themselves, it’s really not that big of an issue. It’s not a common occurrence, it actually makes the drivers feel human, relatable and shows some of their passion. The FIA comes out of all this looking exceptionally petty and hypocritical. A slap-on-the-wrist monetary fine just to officially show they don’t condone it (like other sports) would have gone down much quieter and not drawn so much unnecessary attention to an insignificant issue.

[@mashedpotatoes5276]

So why was Sulayem not fined when he carried on at the F1 awards night 2022?

[@robdbanque]

Here’s an idea, ban the press conferences, they are boring as shit anyway. Give the drivers a bit more free time to do something useful like race prep.

[@hansb57]

When Ben Sulayem hits himself with a hammer on the thumb he probably says something like "Oh..oh.. that was a rather clumsy thing to do"

[@bennylloyd-willner9667]

When his carpenter does it, you mean😂

[@LandoPro49]

Didn't Lando say the F word after his first F1 win in Miami at the very start of the immediate-post-race interview? And they didn't even bleep it on the F1TV live broadcast. No penalty.

[@bennylloyd-willner9667]

I don't think swearing in a PC is very good, they should be calm enough to speak without swearing. In a race, it's a different story. Of course swearing in the heat of the moment is perfectly human and perfectly fine. To do something more than talk to those swearing, like penalties, is absurd. Just tell those who swear at PCs and such that they must try and better their lingo.

[@anthonybarton2103]

Speech isn't free anymore?

[@soundscape26]

You need to adequate it to the circumstances... do you swear no matter who you're talking to?

[@foryousten]

it's the way people introduce themselves to the world, who uses the s*** word a lot is a s*** and who likes the c*** word is just a c*** and so on

[@theseob]

Come to the Netherlands. It’s in our nature to speak our mind without sugarcoating every word. We say things as they are. And we use also a lot of swear words, nothing special here.

[@pao_2031]

Please - let's not pretend euphemisms don't exist in Dutch.

[@iandorosh2634]

What kids are watching press conferences? If anything the penalty is bring even more attention to the swearing making it more likely for kids to see it 😂

[@LynwoodSumner]

Rather ludicrous - Seb Vettel told it like it really is! You don't mike a professional athlete if you don't want to hear it like it really is! 🏎️🏁🏆🍾😎♥️😁

[@mascha28swinkels]

This is complete bullshit, as a 50 yo Woman so outside of biggest demographic the swearing either in the car or in interviews does not offend me at all. Am much more pissed off about some of the countries F1 chooses to race in.

[@timothyroberts1159]

No. FIA is soft.

[@middleearthtroll6183]

What a fucking joke. Ben Sulamen needs to chill out and have a pepperoni pizza

[@croceyzx2433]

Max’s comment raised a good point. I’m power phrasing here but he said something on the lines of “you think 5 and 6 year olds ain’t swearing? Because they are. If it’s not at home then it’s out with friends”. Again, that’s not what he said word to word but you get the idea. The thing is, he’s right! Maybe not 5-8 years olds but 100% ppl the age of 9/10-16 swear when out with friends and the older they get, the more likely they swear at home too or in school. For some ppl it’s in their DNA, it’s the culture. Take the UK and Australia for example where the C bomb which is hugely frowned upon by Americans but even older generations in the UK and Australia too, is just used as a common, don’t over think it, word. I understand that if kids hear these words be said by their “idols” that they may get influenced and think it’s okay to say on a daily basis, but absolutely nothing is stopping them from hearing it by their parents, other adults, shows and so on. Yes you can say it’s up to the parents if they allow/want their children to be exposed to swearing but on the flip side, we’ve all been kids and all had that rebellious phase where we do the things we can’t because it’s cool! Yet if you are exposed to something, you won’t do/say the things as much because you don’t see it as a cool, edgy and rebellious thing instead just a normal Monday and therefore don’t feel the urge.

[@ManlikeNyasha]

This is just madness, we all watch those “best radio messages” on KZbin just to hear drivers swearing!🤣

[@okidoki878]

The hypocrisy that they think kids learn it from tv. In the Netherlands it is on tv and in the UK it is not aloud. But kids in the UK curse more than Dutch kids so no they don’t learn it from the tv

[@b.maximus3169]

I'd like my "role models" to be authentic as possible, which includes swearing if they do so.

[@shaunacaddy9297]

Anyone in this day and time that finds a swear word offensive needs an urgent upgrade I find the arrogance and hypocrisy of the current Fia presidency offensive, it’s televised live high intensity sport just let them get on with it concentrate on real issues and let them race !!!! For F%@# Sake !!!!

[@theimperialfistsspacemarin3050]

Hey Kim, bought quite a few of your books and am quite impressed. Been watching you for some years now and I’d say keep going !

[@Cardioid2035]

Mohammed is just power tripping tbh

[@stewartdaniels3666]

So we asking the drivers under pressure to remember there p&q's, but lets think about these guys are been asked to do so many things . Drivers have been doing this for years but nowadays because they want to let everybody hear the radio. I agree that in media / press conference they should not swear

[@gnarleypunkroker5]

this apologizing for swearing is so childish. swearing is a part of language. quit being such absolute prudees.

[@davidward1224]

The F word and so many more "swear" words have become a routine part of the English language. And I presume many others as well. For the governing body to spending resources on language use seems an enormous waste of time. Any organization is influenced by the morel perspective of its top leaders. It's likely that this "outrage" has more to do with the FIA president's conservative cultural bias than anything else. There have been technical means to "bleep" out offensive language during live broadcasts to decades. Seems the best use of FIA resources would be to implement those and if they are that prudish to require the TV broadcasters to do the same. My recollection is that I've heard and seen that SKY doing that with driver radio sequences now.

[@bigfella3243]

Daniel has just left immediate effect. As I’m watching this

[@77raymo]

Don't ASSUME or believe all "reports "

[@bigfella3243]

@@77raymo I got it from the F1 app. Why wouldn’t it be correct

[@timanderson6005]

Socially conservative rich administration vs testosterone fuelled rule bending competition. What could possibly go wrong.

[@axelknutt5065]

What is a “role model”? It is only trotted out in situations like this. Prior to last Thursday, has any parent ever said “I want my 6 year old to grow up just like Max”? And if the have, did Max’s swearing last week make them change their mind? I get it that a parent might what the kids to strive to be ruthless successful sportsman, but to emulate everything he says or does is a stretch. I’d be more upset about his poor example of sitting up all night gaming.

[@PaulGrubbs-dg5or]

4:00 The press conferences are put on KZbin when they are finished

[@cpcxgsr]

penalizing a driver who curses? Come on... Fine, penalize a driver while be interviewed is one thing. I'm sure corporate sponsors are not thrilled with having an interview being all bleeped out.. But fining a driver while behind the wheel?! GTFO.

[@robertstevenson3009]

That would be an ecumenical matter😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ntsizwa]

I know the FIA oversees more than just Formula 1 but can anyone show me ONE positive JUST ONE POSITIVE thing the current FIA head has brought to F1? Banning underpants, jewellery, swearing etc but what has he done to benefit the sport of F1. What can we look back on & say “geez I’m glad he got the job. Look at the difference he has made”?

[@tomgregory5814]

F*** no! Certainly not on drivers radio. They bleep those anyway. As for driver press conferences, probably shouldn’t use “F” bombs, but wouldn’t punish them with community service! Another over reaction by Ben!

[@MrObsidus]

Imagine being an actual, grown adult and being offended that ~20 year olds driving cars around at 200MPH are swearing at any point in time. Petulant behavior.

[@daphnelovesL]

Swearing in a different languages then your own one? Is different swearing in your own Languages. And you have never learnt swearing at school. So ban schools!

[@daphnelovesL]

But your Petulant answer are you a Hamilton fanboy

[@juancamiloza]

Professional athletes should act professionally. Easy, that has nothing to do with anything against Max or whatever. I don’t personally like Lewis, but he was always an example of behavior and professionalism.

[@shelleystewart2483]

Absolutely ridiculous! If you don’t like swears, don’t fucking watch it. If kids are watching that’s their parents prerogative. As a parent I have used these situations to discuss swearing with my child and the expectations that I have about her language (which is don’t let adults who have power hear you swear)

[@cmr1981cr]

1984

[@thesmallerhalf1968]

MBS seems to be central to these issues. He strikes me as a frustrated would be dictator, who keeps looking for reasons to impress his authority on the sport. Frustrated because the FIA have limited authority in F1 and dictators want it all. It appears that MBS does not take advice because he keeps putting his foot in mouth publicly and attracting anger and derision.

[@CallieMasters5000]

Just fine them. A virtual swear jar, and they can compete to see who pays the most fines.

[@eurocon]

Thanks for bringing a little normality to this ridiculous topic. Bringing back James Hunt, drinking, smoking, fighting oh and swearing all on TV

[@patrickabas1112]

In principle, drivers should say anything they want as it is a communication between driver and team. That the FOCA wants to air it is their own choice. They can beep out anything they don't like as there is a massive delay between different media sources. For example, viewing on my laptop and iPad I have a difference of 5 seconds and sometimes more.! The FIA must address the FOCA/F1 Management in this matter and not the individual drivers. The Chairman of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, is far from being squeaky clean and hiding behind his two-face fake identity. He twists and leans with whomever is footing the bill. He should leave this to the F1 Mgnt or better leave the sport, or simply do not air the radio messages. But I guess that is not an option as it goes against the purse and that is the BOTTOM LINE, MONEY!!! and nothing else.

[@acbc3543]

Class is never penalized. That’s it .

[@PaulGrubbs-dg5or]

3:14 drive to survive has no connection to the FIA

[@Photoline1]

In times like these, I wonder, what would James Hunt do? But let's be serious: I understand that putting on F1 races is very expensive, but is that cost worth overlooking the human rights records of some of the host nations and their sponsors? There is no dignity to begin with if we just cover our ears and eyes whenever we go to these places. I frankly would not want to stand at attention for certain countries' national anthems, given their respective histories of subjugation of their own people. This is why I have excluded certain countries from my F1 travel itineraries. The world isn't perfect, and vulgarity is one of the facts of life that never goes away. So if we are going to ban swearing, what's next? Comments about human rights? Expressions of LGBTq rights? It seems the financiers from certain oil-rich nations are becoming the oppressors. F1 tried being all-inclusive, but that seems have to faded away due to the offense it caused to a few narrow-minded influencers.

[@murielwinston8050]

There are so many programs on TV children watch were swearing, comedy shows that I can’t watch because of swearing and I’m over 70. Maybe they should all try and have similar guidelines because there’s so many children on the street swearing . It has been normalised.

[@robertjohansson3744]

Let's just put mute robots behind the wheel. It will be oh so civilized.

[@Marbeary]

Meanwhile it is ok to continue a race after a missile hit an oil field close to the racetrack. But Curse is too much F*CK the FIA. I am not a Max fan but man that is a stupid penalty.

[@hluna26]

That’s what happens when a Disney own media company buys it. Soon they will request cars to slow down and be less loud so kids can enjoy it better

[@hongk0ngfu3y]

DFUQ is wrong with a bit of swearing.

[@ValentinoMeijer]

Be careful F1, everything woke turns to sh*t.

[@archielundy3131]

Yeah some oil sheik is woke. Give me a break.

[@soundscape26]

That means absolutely nothing... the cursing issue is older than you

[@arboris]

no

[@alexfrag]

Hamilton is COMPLEXED person, not even being a 100% black...always moaning about something.

[@000BlackSoul000AMVs]

Swearing should neither be penalized nor censored!

[@nnonotnow]

I don't give a f*** about swearing. You'll never censor me for f****** swearing. Oops. I'll never watch Kim again. Immature F1 drivers abound

[@davevalentine2606]

f1 management has frustrated me so much that i've stopped watching & I agree with the comments below !

[@sanditrundle2493]

Just rewatched Drive to Survive and the amount of swearing is over-the-top and not just Gunther.

It's just another religious man trying to impose his view of the world.

[@sgtnaffy879]

It's all getting stupid, ppl should wear what they want and say what they want. To many ppl are offended about absolute bollocks.

[@martineyer5336]

English as a second language, I swear as a sailor because it means nothing. 😂😂

[@craigocharger4491]

James Hunt will be turning n his grave.

[@TomBarman]

Thèse guys are killing the sport

[@marinusvermeulen7219]

Bs all do it ....ben says its rapper like which lewis called it racisme....

[@sythompson9331]

I don't think they should be penalized for swearing. I do think they should be encouraged to be respectful in their language.

[@brenthennrich8518]

The FIA is being fucking stupid in this situation.

[@MrRnbksw]

Yes to all, agree with you mate! This is the last sport I watch because everything else is way too regulated, restricted, over censored...etc Ben over there is getting out of hand, he's gonna lose drivers and a large amount of audience to please the 1% stupidity at its finest!

[@robertburt8922]

Sounds like the FIA is slowly blending in to American woke culture. We’ve seen what happens to companies who tried to played that stupid game. F1 will pay the price too if they keep playing these games of being afraid of everything.

[@skippster86]

There is passion in the sport, language is passion. Just put a lil language warning up front that live video may have language. No big deal

[@williammauseth7290]

Yes they should it seems the only way that we can get a reaction out of these spoiled bears is to give them community service 😂😂😂😂😂

[@MakHash420]

FIA needs to stick to racing structures. Let's the teams take care of their drivers.

[@AwakenedWookie]

It's car racing. It's history is built around hard, fast talking men who take no nonsense. They're going to swear. The FIA seems to be forgetting the roots of F1.

[@MarcStanton1]

What this situation does is divide people. Someone will agree that the swearing should be any not allowed while others or more free speech thinking people. The other thing that happens is people will put heavy scrutiny on the FIA organization. Lose/lose

[@irisheyes5890]

How did “gee wiz” in my days become “f - this” today?😮. But I must agree that Max was harshly punished. That Ben guy with his greasy and totally black dyed hair and beard is not a good brand look for F1 either. How many wives??

[@justxxcrystal]

I think it depends on the demographic you are wanting to attract. The majority of F1 seems to only want to attract the music & entertainment industry. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting some eloquence but you can’t mic people up constantly and expect them to walk on eggshells for you. However, with Red Bull, falling apart at the seams, the last thing Max needs to be doing is picking a fight with FIA. F1 is broadcast globally, and unfortunately, one of the drawbacks of that is having to respect multiple cultures. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with asking people to be mindful of multiple cultures & showing respect. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@RaRa-xg7le]

Yes. Too many snowflakes being melted by a bunch of bullshit. I'm so happy the way Max responded to the community service. I hope more drivers stand up for their right to be themselves

[@herrbob5256]

I appreciate not having explicit language.

[@DrAlex82]

The FIA can't tell drivers how to speak in stressful situations in the car. It's not something you can stop immediately. It has a lot to do with how a person was raised and what was viewed as acceptable language in their environment. 🤷‍♂️

[@Endureromex]

I say bring more beach clubs and Kym taken pictures of the attendants