WATCH: Lewis Hamilton asks Max Verstappen to not serve FIA penalty for swearing

In the aftermath of Max Verstappen's punishment for swearing during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has criticized the FIA’s decision and encouraged his former title rival to resist complying with the penalty.

Verstappen faced backlash from the FIA for describing his car as “f****d” in a press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. Verstappen, the first driver penalized under this new directive, was ordered to perform undefined public service work.

Here is the video:

he is so annoyingbshdhdgs pic.twitter.com/aGbesZcEYd

— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) September 21, 2024

The reigning three-time World Champion, known for his typically vocal nature, opted to give minimal responses during Saturday’s press conference. When asked about changes made to his car after a challenging Friday, Max Verstappen tersely replied, “A lot.” 

When pressed for further elaboration, he remarked, “No. I might get fined or get an extra day [of community work].” His quiet protest continued throughout, as he maintained short and curt responses to additional questions, while humorously blaming his silence on a “problem with [his] voice.”

Lewis Hamilton gives a stern response

Both Hamilton and McLaren’s Lando Norris, who was sitting beside Verstappen, were quick to jump to his defence. Norris, with a light-hearted tone, initially quipped that Verstappen “deserved it” for using foul language but swiftly dismissed the penalty as “pretty unfair.”

Here is the video: 

Lewis about Max getting the community service for swearing:



"I think it's a bit of a joke to be honest, this is the pinnacle of the sport, mistakes are made.. I certainely wouldn't be doing it [the community service] and I hope Max doesn't do it."pic.twitter.com/Pu6P8IG44X

— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) September 21, 2024

Hamilton, taking a stronger stance, slammed the FIA’s decision, calling it a “joke” and criticizing the regulation as unnecessary for the top tier of motorsport. He went further, advising Verstappen to reject the punishment altogether. “I certainly wouldn’t be doing it, and I hope Max doesn’t do it,” Hamilton remarked.

The incident has stirred debate, especially in light of Hamilton's pointed comments. He expressed discomfort with FIA President Ben Sulayem’s approach, hinting that there may be deeper issues at play. In a statement preceding the Grand Prix, Hamilton suggested the crackdown on swearing had potential racial undertones, implying a need for more context and understanding around the language used in Formula 1.