Max Verstappen’s fiery outburst over team radio following his penalty at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix certainly raised eyebrows, with the Dutchman’s expletive echoing around the motorsport world. However, despite the strong language, the FIA opted against further punishment. This decision boils down to the specific regulations governing driver conduct and the context in which Verstappen’s comments were made.
The FIA, under Article 12 of the 2025 sporting regulations, has adopted a stricter stance on driver language. However, the primary focus of these regulations is on abusive language directed at race officials or uttered during televised interviews and press conferences, where drivers are addressing a broader public audience.
Verstappen’s colorful choice of words (“b***** lovely”) was delivered over the team’s private radio channel in the immediate aftermath of receiving a five-second penalty for his incident with Oscar Piastri. While undoubtedly a display of frustration in the heat of the moment, it wasn’t aimed at the FIA stewards or any other race official.
Crucially, the FIA has generally adopted a more lenient approach to language used on team radio, provided it isn’t directed at officials. The context of Verstappen’s outburst – an immediate reaction to a decision directly impacting his race outcome – likely played a significant role in the stewards’ assessment. The FIA understands that emotions can run high during competition, and private team communications are often less scrutinized than public statements.
This contrasts with the FIA’s stance on public pronouncements. It’s worth recalling that Verstappen received a “community service-style penalty” at the end of the 2024 season for using an expletive during a press conference. This previous sanction underscores the FIA’s willingness to act when drivers use inappropriate language in a public-facing setting.
In essence, the distinction lies in the intended recipient and the public nature of the communication. Verstappen’s team radio rant, while expletive-laden, was a private expression of frustration within the confines of his team. It didn’t cross the line into direct abuse of officials or public indecency, thus likely avoiding further FIA sanctions.
However, this incident may prompt further discussion regarding the broadcasting of team radio. While it offers fans a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the drivers’ world, the potential for such outbursts raises questions about maintaining a certain standard of conduct, even in private communications that are ultimately made public. The FIA may well consider tightening the reins on what is deemed acceptable on team radio if drivers cannot exercise more restraint in their language.
For now, Verstappen has escaped further punishment for his Jeddah outburst, but the incident serves as a reminder of the fine line drivers must tread between expressing their emotions and adhering to the sport’s regulations onconduct.
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