'I would never...' - Rosberg and Brundle flame ongoing swearing issue with controversial advise to Max Verstappen

The fiery language of reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has ignited a storm of controversy, sparking criticism from both the FIA and prominent figures in the sport. During a press conference in Singapore, Verstappen casually dropped the f-bomb, which led to an official reprimand and a community service penalty handed down by the FIA.

However, the ongoing fallout from the incident has sparked debate among F1 insiders, with former drivers Nico Rosberg and Martin Brundle offering differing views on how Verstappen should handle the situation. Notably, during a discussion on Sky Sports F1, they debated the balance between raw emotion and professional conduct in Formula 1, with both offering candid advice to Verstappen.

What did Nico Rosberg say?

Nico Rosberg, a former world champion and no stranger to controversy himself, advised Verstappen to avoid getting too caught up in the drama. “There are two sides to this. On one hand, we’ve got kids watching, and on the other hand, we want drivers to be gladiators, showing their true emotions. So, for me, the best solution is just to bleep it out and let them express themselves”, says Rosberg.

"If I were in Max’s shoes, I wouldn’t let this waste my energy. He's in a crucial fight for the championship and needs full focus. This issue isn’t worth all that attention,” Rosberg further added. However, Bundle also joined him and gave unwarranted advice to Verstappen.

“I won’t do it”, says Martin Brundle

Martin Brundle agreed that the incident had been overblown but maintained that swearing in front of an audience isn’t something to be taken lightly. “In the heat of the moment, sure, we all let words slip, but gratuitous swearing isn't necessary and doesn’t reflect well,” Brundle commented.

Brundle, when asked by Rosberg if he ever used such language in press conferences during his career, laughed but firmly replied, “Thank you for asking. I would never swear gratuitously in that way.” While ex-drivers continue to advise Verstappen, he has received immense support from fellow drivers including Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.