2024 Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen's community service penalty has been confirmed by the FIA after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Due to his choice of words during an official FIA press conference in Singapore, Verstappen has been handed a community service penalty by the FIA. However, up until now, the details of what this would entail had not been confirmed.
As part of his community engagement, Verstappen will work with junior racing drivers in Rwanda. This initiative, conducted with the support of the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC), includes introducing young competitors to motorsports through an activity involving an FIA Affordable Cross Car.
A statement from the FIA confirmed:
"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.
"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 2 category Affordable Cross Car project have been delivered to the global network of 147 National Sporting Authorities (ASNs)."
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been vocal about the need for restraint in language use. He explained previously:
"I mean, we have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music.
"We're not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That's them and we are [us]."
He added:
"I know, I was a driver," he said.
"In the heat of the moment, when you think you are upset because another driver came to you and pushed you...
"When I used to drive in the dust [and something like that happened], I would get upset. But also, we have to be careful with our conduct. We need to be responsible people.
"And now with the technology, everything is going live and everything is going to be recorded. At the end of the day, we have to study that to see: do we minimise what is being said publicly?
"Because imagine you are sitting with your children and watching the race and then someone is saying all of this dirty language. I mean, what would your children or grandchildren say? What would you teach them if that is your sport?"
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