FIA shares details of Max Verstappen's official community service
FIA recently released a statement explaining what Max Verstappen will be doing as part of serving the "work of public interest" penalty he received in the 2024 F1 Singapore GP. The governing body explained how he would drive a cross car that was locally built in Rwanda, Africa.
During the race weekend in Singapore, Max Verstappen was penalized by the FIA for swearing in the pre-race press conference. During the conference, the Red Bull star tried to express his car's poor condition through the swear word 'f***.' Following this, F1's governing body declared that Verstappen would have to do some kind of work of public interest as a punishment.
The entire F1 paddock and the fanbase were split by the decision and the fact that an F1 driver was penalized for expressing his car's condition with a swear word. FIA did not reveal more details of the penalty at that moment but created a social media post on X explaining its nature.
In the statement, they first stated that Max Verstappen would visit the 2024 F1 General Assemblies and Prize Giving Ceremony that will take place in Rwanda, Africa. The Dutchman would receive his fourth consecutive F1 drivers' title trophy in the event. However, he would then serve his penalty in Kigali itself.
The FIA declared that Verstappen would do some work related to the FIA's Affordable Cross Car that was locally built in Rwanda with other junior competitors. This was part of the grassroots development program by Rwanda's Motorsport Federation.
"Max Verstappen will travel to the FIA Awards Ceremony which takes place as part of the General Assemblies next week in Kigali, Rwanda to collect his fourth consecutive FIA Formula One World Championship trophy. While in Kigali he will undertake some work with junior competitors as part of the grassroots development programme organised by @MotorsportRw," the statement read.
"The activity will involve an FIA Affordable Cross Car which was built locally in Rwanda by the RAC from blueprints provided by the FIA. Design blueprints for the Level 2 category Affordable Cross Car project have been delivered to the global network of 147 National Sporting Authorities (ASNs)."
Max Verstappen's swearing incident that led to FIA's 'work of public interest' penalty
Max Verstappen was penalized by the FIA because he swore during Thursday's press conference at the 2024 F1 Singapore GP. He talked about FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem trying to curb swearing in the sport as a whole, especially from drivers' team radios. In response, Verstappen expressed his frustration towards a poor car condition.
He then said that even if kids are watching the live broadcast of the sport and hearing all the swear words, they will eventually pick them up as they grow. Hence, the Red Bull driver reckoned that curbing it would not change anything.
"I mean it's not even that bad right? I mean the car was not working, the car is f-ed, yeah. And then, excuse me for the language but come on, what are we? Five-year-olds six-year-olds? Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching I mean they will eventually swear anyway even if their parents won't or they will not allow it. When they grow up they will walk around with their friends and they will be swearing. So you know this is not changing anything," Verstappen said.
Following his penalty, Max Verstappen silently protested against FIA's decision by not saying much in subsequent press conferences and conducting media interactions while he walked through the paddock.