Christian Horner Uses British Royal Family Reference To Defend Max Verstappen's Swearing Penalty

Max Verstappen has been stuck in the middle of a controversy after he was reprimanded by the FIA for swearing during a live press event. This comes at a time when the FIA is trying to reduce drivers from swearing during races and other live events. The move from the FIA faced a lot of backlash from the drivers and their teams. Max Verstappen was given community service as punishment for swearing which further angered several drivers. Recently Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner defended his driver for the same. 

Horner Makes Royal Family Reference To Defend Max 

Amidst all the anger and outbursts against the FIA's decision to put a ban on drivers swearing in and around F1, Christian Horner made a unique reference to defend his driver. Horner took the British Royal Family as an example and stated that if they can swear so can F1 drivers who are not native English speakers. 

"I think Max has made his feelings clear on it. Of course, all these drivers are role models, but language that's used in everyday life, I think it would have been perhaps better dealt with slightly differently.

"It would have avoided any awkwardness.

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"He is a driver for whom English is not his native tongue, and we've seen members of the Royal Family telling photographers to 'take a f***ing photo,' so reactions need to be relative," said Christian Horner while speaking to members of the press. 

FIA President Faces Backlash For Swearing Move 

The FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been facing heavy backlash for his move by the drivers and their team principals. 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton even termed the statement by Sulayem to be having a racial element after the president had drawn comparisons to rappers.  

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Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas also spoke in defence of Max Verstappen saying that drivers are only human and these are human reactions.