Verstappen to serve FIA swearing punishment in Rwanda around awards ceremony

Max Verstappen will serve his FIA press conference swearing punishment while in Rwanda for the governing body’s annual awards ceremony next week.

The Red Bull driver was effectively given a community service order by the FIA for swearing in the pre-event press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix in September, which led to the Dutchman protesting at the following FIA press conferences with short answers before hosting his own media debriefs outside in the paddock.

As part of clinching his fourth F1 world title, Verstappen is required to attend the FIA awards ceremony, which this year is being held in Kigali in Rwanda on 13 December. Championship runner-up Lando Norris and third-placed driver Charles Leclerc are also due to attend the event.

The FIA has announced Verstappen will serve his “work of public interest” punishment while in Rwanda, working with junior competitors in a grassroots development programme organised by the Rwanda Automobile Club. Verstappen’s work will involve an FIA Affordable Cross Car that was built in Rwanda.

PLUS: What happened the last time Verstappen did community service

“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,” read an FIA statement released after the Abu Dhabi GP.

“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 1 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 2 category Affordable Cross Car project have been delivered to the global network of 147 National Sporting Authorities [ASNs].”

Verstappen’s previous FIA community service penalty, given to him for his confrontation with Esteban Ocon at the 2018 Brazilian GP, led to him attending the Marrakech Formula E round in early 2019 to shadow the event stewards. He then later attended a winter stewards’ training seminar in Geneva.