Former Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner has said the FIA made a “big story” out of the incident in which it penalised Max Verstappen for swearing. Verstappen was given a one-day community service penalty by the sport’s governing body for swearing during a press-conference, in which he referred to his Red Bull car as “f•••ed”.

Guenther Steiner said he believes FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem gets involved in the sporting side of Formula 1 too much.

The FIA was wrong to "make a big story" out of the Max Verstappen swearing controversy, says Guenther Steiner.

Former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has expressed concerns that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is becoming too involved in Formula 1, particularly in light of the recent swearing incident involving Max Verstappen.

Guenther Steiner has criticised the way the FIA have handled the banning of swearing by F1 drivers and suggested they should have solved any grievances in private. Max Verstappen became the first target of the rule enforced by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem but Steiner believes drivers like the Dutchman should have been spoken to in private.