Inside the F1 WhatsApp group with drivers concerned at Verstappen’s ‘joke’ punishment and private crunch talks planned
FORMULA ONE stars are set for private crunch talks in support of Max Verstappen amid his swearing battle with the FIA.
The drivers want discussions over how best to respond to racing bosses’ community service punishment for the Dutchman.
The Red Bull hero used the F-word in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix — and was ordered to complete “work of public interest”.
Triple world champion Verstappen, 26, refused to answer questions fully in the subsequent press conference in protest and has won grid support.
Drivers have expressed concerns on the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) WhatsApp group.
And when asked if there was support for him, Verstappen said: “Yeah, for sure.
“I wrote in the GPDA chat about the ruling and everyone was almost laughing — like, ‘What the hell is that?’. So, yeah, it is silly.”
In Singapore, Lewis Hamilton even backed his old rival by slamming the punishment as a “joke”.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem sparked the controversy by declaring his intention to tackle bad language over team radios.
He compared swearing drivers to rappers — which Hamilton blasted as having a “racial element”.
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GPDA chairman Alex Wurz said: “How many lifetime community services would Guenther Steiner [former Haas team chief] have to serve for using the F-word?
“He was glorified for using it. Netflix broadcast this worldwide, no problem. But then, to suddenly change like that.
“The choice of words is not my personal taste as a driver.
“But as GPDA chairman, I have to say we’ll discuss it internally.
“First, reach a full consensus, then we’ll consider whether — and in what form — we’ll talk to the FIA.”
Verstappen even said after the Singapore GP that the row could speed up his Formula One exit.
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The Dutchman finished second on Sunday to Lando Norris, which cut his title lead to 52 points.
Brit Norris, 24, who won by 20 seconds, said: “A win’s a win. Maybe it puts a slightly bigger smile on your face but the main job is just getting the win.
“It’s satisfying no matter what. Of course, the bigger the gap you can have, the happier you’ll be.
“But I’m just happy we finished on top and got maximum points.
“It’s always going to be a tough race in Singapore — but I just felt good all weekend.”
Savage sackings in F1
THE world of F1 can be savage, with employees discarded like used tea bags.
Danish driver Kevin Magnussen was a rising star of the McLaren team when he made his debut in 2014 alongside Jensen Button.
But when he finished the season trailing in eleventh place, he was swiftly replaced by two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso.
Instead of breaking the bad news to him in a face-to-face meeting, boss Ron Dennis got his assistant to send Magnussen a short and impersonal email.
Worst still, the curt message landed in Kevin’s inbox on his 23rd birthday.
Read more tales of F1’s brutal world including one boss who was labelled an ‘executioner’ and a driver dumped by a brisk TEXT.