In a controversy that has rippled through the motorsport world, Formula E champion Lucas Di Grassi has come out in strong defense of Max Verstappen, sharply criticizing the FIA’s decision to punish the Red Bull driver for his swearing during a Formula 1 event. The incident, which saw Verstappen penalized with community service, has sparked widespread debate across the racing community, with many arguing the punishment was excessive.
Verstappen, known for his fiery on-track performances and candid personality, found himself in hot water with the sport’s governing body after using expletives during a race weekend. In response, the FIA hit him with a community service order, a decision that Di Grassi has labeled as “overly harsh.”
The first-ever Formula E champion, Di Grassi, emphasized that emotions can run high during a race, leading drivers to swear out of frustration—something that, in his view, doesn’t warrant such severe punishment. He called for a reconsideration of the FIA’s approach, suggesting that the intensity of racing naturally leads to strong reactions.
“I think it’s maybe a bit harsh giving like community service if you swear,” Di Grassi remarked. “It’s something that I don’t agree with, and I don’t think it’s a good thing to try to be so harsh.”
Drawing comparisons to other sports, Di Grassi pointed out that football players frequently engage in verbal altercations during games, yet their outbursts go unnoticed as they are not mic’d up like F1 drivers. He also mentioned the widespread use of explicit language in pop music, which, despite its prevalence, doesn’t face similar scrutiny or consequences.
“If you are in a football game [for example], the lyrics of some of the songs that we currently hear, like pop music, there is also a lot of swearing in this,” Di Grassi added, illustrating the inconsistency in how language is policed across different public platforms.
While defending Verstappen’s behavior, Di Grassi acknowledged that as a father of two young children, he personally tries to avoid swearing, particularly during races. He stressed that while emotions can sometimes get the better of drivers, he makes a conscious effort to keep calm on the radio.
“I have two young kids, and I try to cut my swearing as much as I can. Actually, myself, I’m very quiet on the radio, very quiet,” said Di Grassi, highlighting his personal approach to handling in-race frustration.
Verstappen’s punishment has ignited a broader discussion within Formula 1 about the pressures drivers face and the extent to which their language should be policed. The reigning world champion has expressed frustration with the penalty, and many fellow drivers have voiced their support, arguing that the FIA’s decision was overly punitive and inconsistent with the realities of high-pressure racing.
As the debate continues, the FIA’s handling of driver conduct will likely remain a hot topic, especially as more drivers and figures like Di Grassi publicly challenge the organization’s stance on what constitutes acceptable behavior on and off the track.
Photo from Lucas Di Grassi Instagram
