Max Verstappen risked a fine on Friday morning after flipping off someone on the pit wall during pre-season testing. The Red Bull driver could be at risk of a financial penalty after the FIA’s unpopular rule change.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem launched an aggressive clampdown on driver swearing in 2024, and Verstappen became the first major victim, receiving a community service punishment for swearing during the Singapore Grand Prix press conference.

Now, the Dutchman could receive a second penalty, this time financial. This is because the FIA overhauled article 12.2.1 in Appendix B of the International Sporting Code, imposing strict limits on driver expression.

The new rule will apply fines under the following conditions: “Any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motorsport and on the values defended by the FIA.”

The possible fines are not unsubstantial, either. First offences will result in a financial penalty of £33,800 (€40,000), and these punishments can scale to £101,400 (€120,000) on the third offence, as well as a championship points deduction and even a one-month ban from racing.

Verstappen now faces a nervous wait to see whether or not he is fined. Thanks to the vague wording of the FIA’s new rule, this action could be penalised, but applications thus far have been inconsistent. WRC star Adrien Fourmaux was fined for swearing in a post-race TV interview, but Formula E racer Dan Ticktum avoided punishment for a sweary radio rant.

The four-time world champion has already made his position on the rule clear. “Honestly, I don’t even need to say too much, right, because I think if you just look at everyone’s reaction to it, I think that says enough,” he told select media, including Express Sport. “Of course, I understand that you cannot always swear wherever you go, right?

“I think we all understand that as racing drivers. But sometimes, in the heat of the moment or when you get interviewed when you’re in your car, and you’ve just had an adrenaline rush or whatever, sometimes things slip out a little bit.

“Plus, I think we all grew up, probably most people grew up in school, playing football or sports in general, it happens that you use a swear word, and I think we shouldn’t take it so serious, you know. Plus, I’m also not going to tell you how you should behave in life, I guess. That’s pretty much all I can say about it, but we have to deal with it at the moment – it has been written.”