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Karun Chandhok Has a Divided View on FIA’s Crackdown on Swearing

Somin Bhattacharjee
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Karun Chandhok Has a Divided View on FIA’s Crackdown on Swearing

Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok became the latest to share his thoughts on Max Verstappen’s ‘swearing saga’ from the Singapore GP weekend. Unlike the majority, however, he did not take a clear side.

Verstappen was penalized for using the f-word, something the Dutchman did intentionally to protest the FIA’s ban on cursing in front of the media. Chandhok, on the F1 subreddit, insisted that F1 drivers ought to be aware that they are examples to millions of viewers worldwide — many children.

“The drivers are ambassadors of the sport and you don’t want them swearing, and putting off young kids particularly,” Chandhok wrote. At the same time, Chandhok discussed why Verstappen and other drivers often resort to swearing.

He acknowledged that not every driver’s first language is English, which can lead to their expressions being raw and unfiltered when they do speak the language. “I think we want to see characters. We don’t want to see robots. We want to see them wear their heart on their sleeves,” he added.

Chandhok also stated that the FIA should “not fight this battle,” as it is impractical for drivers from other countries to have translators sitting next to them to interpret everything they say.

Verstappen’s protest on FIA’s punishment

Verstappen knew what he was doing when he used the f-word, and the FIA was not going to let it slide. They imposed a community service punishment, which he (and some other F1 drivers) found ridiculous.

The Red Bull driver continued his protest the day after this incident by refusing to give adequate answers to the media. But since he didn’t use any swear words this time, there wasn’t any reason for the FIA to punish him.

Most of Verstappen’s counterparts supported him, but one driver insisted that he should know how to behave — Fernando Alonso. Alonso, who is the most experienced driver in F1, believes that drivers should understand the fact that they are role models to the next generation. He said,

“When you want to say something that is not correct, you have to hold yourself and be politically correct… So, until you are a driver or you are in the public spotlight, you need to behave properly.”

Post Edited By:Vidit Dhawan

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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