Guenther Steiner Criticizes FIA Over Verstappen Penalty

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner criticized the FIA for overreacting to Max Verstappen's swearing incident during a press conference, stating it was unnecessary to make a 'big story' out of it. Verstappen received a community service punishment for his language, which Steiner argued was disproportionate, as the comments were not directed at anyone. Most drivers have shown support for Verstappen, labeling the sanction as excessive and urging him not to comply. Steiner suggested a more constructive approach would have been to privately address the issue with drivers rather than imposing penalties. He acknowledged that while swearing should be avoided in public, it is a common occurrence in the heat of competition. The situation has sparked debate about the FIA's handling of language standards in Formula 1, especially in light of comments from FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem regarding language in the sport.