Verstappen serves FIA PUNISHMENT after 2024 rule breach

Red Bull star Max Verstappen has finally served a community service punishment handed to him by the FIA following a rule breach at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Dutchman secured his fourth consecutive drivers' championship following success at the Las Vegas Grand Prix but has endured a much tougher season than he has become accustomed to after dominating the sport in recent years.

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Prior to his stunning victories in Brazil and Qatar as the 2024 season headed towards its conclusion, Verstappen had failed to step on the top step of the podium since winning the Spanish GP back in June.

Christian Horner's team frequently found themselves at the centre of FIA penalty debates this year, most notably for an incident that occurred off-track when Red Bull star Verstappen swore in an FIA press conference.

At the Singapore GP, Verstappen was discussing the poor form of his machinery, stating he knew the car was 'F***ed', language which saw him slapped with a highly unusual community service-style penalty from the sport's governing body.

Verstappen serves FIA punishment

Many felt Verstappen's punishment was highly unusual, with a debate around the topic raging on for weeks, and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton branding it as a 'joke'.

However, as the stars of motorsport across a variety of racing series headed to Rwanda for the 2024 FIA awards ceremony, it was revealed that Verstappen would carry out his punishment in Kigali, with the F1 champion working with junior competitors as part of the grassroots development programme organised by the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC).

During Verstappen's visit, he also witnessed Rwanda's first cross-car and spoke with young drivers and engineers.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said of the visit: "[Max] really fulfilled his promise,"

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Giving back to the community. Thank you, Max#FIA pic.twitter.com/2PLq8PkKs8

— FIA (@fia) December 14, 2024

"This is the community service we need every single driver, champion, to do if we want to grow. If we talk about diversity: this is the real diversity. It was not about the car, mainly about the people there.

"I believe maybe in the future we won't have to have it as a penalty. It has to come as a gesture from the drivers and maybe I'll put it on the contract once they get their licence."

Posted on the official FIA account via social media platform 'X', F1's governing body thanked the champion for his community service: "Giving back to the community. Thank you, Max."

Indeed, it seems that despite the nature of Verstappen's penalty, it was a wholesome and inspiring coming together in Rwanda.

It will certainly be interesting to see if drivers follow suit with similar community projects in the future without being obliged to, as the FIA President hopes.

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