The reason why Lewis Hamilton will love F1’s swearing penalty despite telling Max Verstappen not to serve it
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will serve a penalty for swearing in one of Lewis Hamilton’s ‘favourite places’ Rwanda. Red Bull star Verstappen was ordered by F1’s governing body to ‘accomplish work of public interest’ after swearing in September. Hamilton hoped Verstappen would ignore FIA punishment for swearingAFP The Dutchman, who secured his fourth successive drivers’ championship last month, was involved in a unique saga last season. Verstappen was caught swearing in Singapore when describing Red Bull’s performance following the Azerbaijan GP the week before. F1’s governing body, the FIA, ordered him to perform ‘work of public interest’ – a punishment slammed by other F1 drivers. Hamilton dubbed the penalty ‘a joke’ and even expressed his hope that Verstappen didn’t end up doing it. The seven-time world champion may now perform a U-turn on that opinion following the announcement of Verstappen’s sentencing. The latter will work with junior drivers in the Rwanda Automobile Club’s grassroots programme next week. Verstappen will visit the African country to collect his winners’ trophy for the FIA’s prize-giving gala in Kigali. An FIA statement released after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix read: “The FIA has announced the details of Max Verstappen’s ‘work of public interest’ duty linked to the stewards’ penalty for the use of unacceptable language during the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix drivers’ press conference. “Verstappen will travel to the FIA Awards Ceremony, which takes place as part of the General Assemblies next week in Kigali, Rwanda to collect his fourth consecutive FIA Formula One World Championship trophy. “While in Kigali he will undertake some work with junior competitors as part of the grassroots development programme organised by the Rwanda Automobile Club [RAC]. The activity will involve an FIA Affordable Cross Car, which was built locally in Rwanda by the RAC from blueprints provided by the FIA. Hamilton wants to help get an F1 race on the continent Hamilton shared pictures of his visit to Rwanda two years agoInstagram “Design blueprints for the Level Two category Affordable Cross Car project have been delivered to the global network of 147 National Sporting Authorities [ASNs].” Verstappen’s extensive involvement with junior drivers in Rwanda will only increase speculation that an F1 Grand Prix will be held in Kigali. talkSPORT revealed in October that F1 president Stefano Domenicali had staged secret talks over returning to Africa. The 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was the last time F1 raced on the ‘Mother Continent’ – despite boasting a record 24-race calendar across five continents on the 2024 calendar. Hamilton threw his support behind the plans to debut in Rwanda having visited various African countries during F1’s summer break. He said: “Rwanda is one of my favourite places I’ve been to. I’ve been doing a lot of work in the background and spoken to people in Rwanda and South Africa. That’s a long project, but it’s amazing that they’re so keen to get it.” Verstappen offered blunt answers in his press conference in Singapore Verstappen protested against the FIA with a personal press conferenceGetty “We can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa,” Hamilton added at the Dutch GP in August. Former Formula 1 driver Mark Blundell finished on the podium during the 1993 South African Grand Prix and backed Hamilton’s views. “I think Africa as a whole should have a Grand Prix”, The 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans winner told talkSPORT. “I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t. “There are many countries that make up that sort of continent as such that are very forward thinking and very much pushing on with their economies and they’ve got a lot to offer. “Let’s face it also, there’s a huge amount of people out there, it’s a big population. “I don’t see and I don’t expect that there won’t be a Grand Prix Day in the very near future. “I think that’s got to be put in the calendar. It might be at the loss of somewhere else, but definitely, I think that’s on the card. “Yeah, I get that Lewis is promoting that and I think it’s a very positive vibe. I think it should be taken note of.” The 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix was F1’s first visit to Africa Verstappen was punished after swearing in a press conference in SeptemberGetty Verstappen meanwhile is just four points away from an automatic one-race ban after serving his community-service punishment. He was handed a 10-second penalty and two penalty points on his Super Licence for his crash with Oscar Piastri on Sunday. That has put Verstappen on eight over a 12-month period, and the man himself joked that he could do well to time any suspension. “Maybe I go to 12 when the baby is
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will serve a penalty for swearing in one of Lewis Hamilton’s ‘favourite places’ Rwanda.
Red Bull star Verstappen was ordered by F1’s governing body to ‘accomplish work of public interest’ after swearing in September.
The Dutchman, who secured his fourth successive drivers’ championship last month, was involved in a unique saga last season.
Verstappen was caught swearing in Singapore when describing Red Bull’s performance following the Azerbaijan GP the week before.
F1’s governing body, the FIA, ordered him to perform ‘work of public interest’ – a punishment slammed by other F1 drivers.
Hamilton dubbed the penalty ‘a joke’ and even expressed his hope that Verstappen didn’t end up doing it.
The seven-time world champion may now perform a U-turn on that opinion following the announcement of Verstappen’s sentencing.
The latter will work with junior drivers in the Rwanda Automobile Club’s grassroots programme next week.
Verstappen will visit the African country to collect his winners’ trophy for the FIA’s prize-giving gala in Kigali.
An FIA statement released after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix read: “The FIA has announced the details of Max Verstappen’s ‘work of public interest’ duty linked to the stewards’ penalty for the use of unacceptable language during the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix drivers’ press conference.
“Verstappen will travel to the FIA Awards Ceremony, which takes place as part of the General Assemblies next week in Kigali, Rwanda to collect his fourth consecutive FIA Formula One World Championship trophy.
“While in Kigali he will undertake some work with junior competitors as part of the grassroots development programme organised by the Rwanda Automobile Club [RAC]. The activity will involve an FIA Affordable Cross Car, which was built locally in Rwanda by the RAC from blueprints provided by the FIA.
“Design blueprints for the Level Two category Affordable Cross Car project have been delivered to the global network of 147 National Sporting Authorities [ASNs].”
Verstappen’s extensive involvement with junior drivers in Rwanda will only increase speculation that an F1 Grand Prix will be held in Kigali.
talkSPORT revealed in October that F1 president Stefano Domenicali had staged secret talks over returning to Africa.
The 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was the last time F1 raced on the ‘Mother Continent’ – despite boasting a record 24-race calendar across five continents on the 2024 calendar.
Hamilton threw his support behind the plans to debut in Rwanda having visited various African countries during F1’s summer break.
He said: “Rwanda is one of my favourite places I’ve been to. I’ve been doing a lot of work in the background and spoken to people in Rwanda and South Africa. That’s a long project, but it’s amazing that they’re so keen to get it.”
“We can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa,” Hamilton added at the Dutch GP in August.
Former Formula 1 driver Mark Blundell finished on the podium during the 1993 South African Grand Prix and backed Hamilton’s views.
“I think Africa as a whole should have a Grand Prix”, The 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans winner told talkSPORT. “I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t.
“There are many countries that make up that sort of continent as such that are very forward thinking and very much pushing on with their economies and they’ve got a lot to offer.
“Let’s face it also, there’s a huge amount of people out there, it’s a big population.
“I don’t see and I don’t expect that there won’t be a Grand Prix Day in the very near future.
“I think that’s got to be put in the calendar. It might be at the loss of somewhere else, but definitely, I think that’s on the card.
“Yeah, I get that Lewis is promoting that and I think it’s a very positive vibe. I think it should be taken note of.”
Verstappen meanwhile is just four points away from an automatic one-race ban after serving his community-service punishment.
He was handed a 10-second penalty and two penalty points on his Super Licence for his crash with Oscar Piastri on Sunday.
That has put Verstappen on eight over a 12-month period, and the man himself joked that he could do well to time any suspension.
“Maybe I go to 12 when the baby is born,” he said with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet expecting their first child next year. “Paternity leave.”
