The long-running uproar in Formula 1 over swearing casts a bad light on both sides · RaceFans

There is nothing about the dispute between Max Verstappen and the FIA ​​over the use of a swear word three days ago that does not cause despair.

Not only FIA President Mohamed Ben Sulayem, who for many inevitably takes on the role of the villain in this story. But also the driver who reacted clumsily. Not to mention all those who focused exclusively on this thoughtlessly trivial non-issue and ignored everything else.

When Ben Sulayem remarked earlier this week that he would like to hear fewer swear words coming from drivers' radios, it was clear that he had found a hobbyhorse to rival his previous penchant for the other great evil, the wearing of jewelry by motorists. But at least his crusade could be viewed as a security issue in 2022, however clumsily the matter was handled.

Ben Sulayem showed how little had been learned from this episode by justifying his objection to swearing with a poorly worded reference to “rappers.” For some, notably Lewis Hamilton, this had racist implications that were far more disturbing than a simple “F-bomb.”

But Ben Sulayem had issued a warning that Verstappen either didn't see or ignored. At the official FIA press conference on Thursday, he described his car as “shitty”, a choice of words guaranteed to provoke a reaction as if he had sneaked up behind a gorilla and poked it with a stick. And indeed, on Friday, the FIA ​​announced that he would have to perform an act of “public service” to atone for the faux pas.

Of course, this wouldn't be a story about FIA rule enforcement if it weren't for one glaring example of inconsistency. In the FIA ​​press conference after the Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc used the same word as Verstappen. The FIA ​​transcribed his comments and posted them on its website, where they remained for the past four months, apparently without offending anyone. The FIA ​​has not responded to RaceFans' question about why one comment resulted in a penalty and the other was ignored.

However, there are recent precedents that show the FIA ​​​​takes the matter seriously. At last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix, Ferrari and Mercedes team principals Frederic Vasseur and Toto Wolff were reprimanded for the same thing as Verstappen. The pair had to bear their scolding as “naughty schoolboys” with composure. The same could not be said of the world champion.

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A simple admission that a mistake had been made could have helped put an end to the matter. Instead, according to the race stewards, Verstappen made the ridiculous argument that “the word used is normal in the colloquial language he learned, as English is not his first language.” Red Bull's PR machine is a highly professional operation – the entire company exists to market cans of soft drinks – and the claim that it kept arguably its most famous spokesman in the dark about such a basic fact is beyond dubious.

According to the race stewards, Verstappen “apologised for his behaviour”. However, he showed little sign of remorse in public, criticising his punishment as “ridiculous” and refusing to give factual answers at his next appearance at an FIA press conference.

It is neither surprising nor unreasonable that an organisation would expect its members to behave professionally when representing it in an official capacity. Verstappen is doing himself no favours by pretending not to be aware of this.

Since the FIA ​​seems to be so concerned about press conference profanity, it should apply its rules consistently. Otherwise, it will come across as bungling at best and, at worst, as if it wanted to make an example of Verstappen.

In addition, the umbrella organization has drawn ridicule for the president's suggestion that, given the enormous strain of racing, drivers should first consider moderating their language on the radio.

The FIA ​​has already started prosecuting drivers for making offensive or abusive statements on the radio, but attempting to prosecute drivers just for swearing in these circumstances would be a ridiculous overstep of the mark.

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Moreover, it would be completely unnecessary. In Formula 1, there is already an acceptable status quo when it comes to radio messages.

Most drivers will probably always drop a few swear words, some more than others. Formula 1 management already applies not one but two levels of censorship to every utterance of their drivers. Messages sent through the World Feed are 'bleeped' when necessary.

Much of this has been overlooked in the predictable and drawn-out furore that the Verstappen case has generated on social media and elsewhere, an argument so unnecessary, so petty, so trivial that it makes you want to curse.

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