Max Verstappen’s foul-mouthed outbursts on team radio might rub some people the wrong way, but inside Red Bull’s garage, no one is losing sleep over it. As the FIA considers a possible delay or blackout on in-car radio broadcasts to curb expletives, Red Bull’s senior engine technician Calum Nicholas has made it clear: Verstappen’s colorful language is not an issue for the team.
FIA’s Controversial Stance: Censoring Team Radios?
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem recently hinted at potential restrictions on live F1 radio transmissions, citing concerns over bad language being broadcast to millions of fans, including young viewers.
“Do we go on and then shut down the radios of live communications? Maybe. Do we delay it? Maybe,” Ben Sulayem said at an FIA officials summit.
This comes after Verstappen became the first F1 driver to be penalized under the revised International Sporting Code for swearing during a Singapore Grand Prix press conference last season.
But inside Red Bull’s garage, the reaction is clear: This is just part of the sport.
Red Bull: “We Don’t Take It Personally”
Nicholas, who has been with Red Bull since 2015, dismissed concerns over Verstappen’s passionate and sometimes aggressive radio messages, emphasizing the intense nature of racing.
“When we hear drivers on the radio, in the midst of a race, in the midst of a battle, their language can be colorful,” Nicholas told talkSPORT.
“I think the important thing to remember is that they are operating in that window where they’re under a great deal of pressure.”
For the Red Bull crew, Verstappen’s occasional swearing isn’t a sign of disrespect—it’s simply the raw emotion of competition.
“We never sit in the garage and hear those comments and think to ourselves, ‘Oh God, I can’t believe he’s being mean to us.’”
Should F1 Drivers Be Role Models? Nicholas Pushes Back
Ben Sulayem’s argument for stricter radio controls is that F1 drivers are influential figures with a responsibility to set an example for younger viewers. But Nicholas believes that responsibility ultimately lies with parents, not drivers.
“For me, actually, as a parent, I think that responsibility is mine—to teach my kids what’s appropriate in some environments and what’s not appropriate in other environments,” he said.
Nicholas, who has a six-year-old daughter, pointed out that bad language is part of life, and parents should guide their children on when and where certain words are appropriate.
“Sometimes when people are using colorful language in the garage, there are smiles while they’re doing it. It doesn’t necessarily tell you the mood. It’s just a word.”
Will the FIA Actually Muzzle Team Radio?
For now, F1’s team radios remain an unfiltered look into the sport’s highest-pressure moments. While the FIA’s suggestions to delay or censor broadcasts have sparked debate, it remains unclear whether such a move would actually improve the spectacle or sterilize the raw emotion that makes F1 so compelling.
One thing is certain—Red Bull isn’t worried about Verstappen’s words. His explosiveness behind the wheel is what matters most, and inside the garage, that’s the only thing that counts.
