FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem recently praised Max Verstappen for fulfilling his community service penalty in Rwanda, calling it a significant contribution to promoting diversity in Formula 1 and motorsport as a whole. Verstappen’s penalty stemmed from a controversial moment during the 2024 F1 Singapore GP, where he swore during a press conference to describe his car’s poor condition. The FIA deemed the outburst inappropriate and imposed a public interest service penalty.
The decision to penalize Verstappen for swearing about his car, rather than another individual, sparked a debate within the F1 paddock and among fans. Initially, the FIA did not reveal the specifics of the penalty but later explained through a social media post on X that Verstappen would participate in a grassroots development program in Rwanda. This initiative, related to the FIA’s Affordable Cross Car, was a part of Rwanda’s motorsport development efforts.
After the FIA Awards Ceremony, Ben Sulayem elaborated on Verstappen’s community service, emphasizing that the Red Bull driver’s actions were a step forward in diversifying motorsport. Verstappen participated in an event in Kigali, interacting with young drivers, including girls who were karting for the first time. Ben Sulayem highlighted the importance of such initiatives, saying, “He really fulfilled his promise. He was there, he was with the young girls and boys who built the car… This is the community service we need every single driver, and champion, to do if we want to grow. If we talk about diversity, this is the real diversity.”
Ben Sulayem hinted that the FIA might make such community service a mandatory part of every driver’s career, not just a penalty. He stated, “It was not about the car, mainly about the people there, about the young girls and boys. I believe maybe in the future we won’t have to have it as a penalty, it has to come as a gesture from the drivers. And maybe I’ll put it on the contract once they get their license.”
At the FIA Awards Ceremony, Verstappen was awarded his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship trophy, celebrating a dominant season, capped off by his victory at the 2024 Las Vegas GP.
