Max Verstappen: The FIA ​​wrongly made a “big story” out of the curse controversy, says Günther Steiner

The Dutchman then twice limited his answers in official FIA press conferences and instead spoke to the media elsewhere outside the room.

He called his punishment “ridiculous” and said the rest of the drivers had supported him and he suggested it was a situation that would shorten his time in Formula One.

Steiner said: “The best way (to deal with it) would have been not to make a big story out of it. Sit down with the drivers, they have a meeting every weekend, and say, 'Hey guys, can you take it easy?' a little bit? We are the FIA, we don't really like that.'

“But don't say, 'If you do this, you'll get a fine, a penalty, whatever.' Because you know these guys, they also have an ego and they say, “I don’t want that.” And then what do you accomplish? All this controversy – for nothing.”

Steiner acknowledged that F1 drivers should watch their language in public forums.

“You've heard me a lot at press conferences and interviews like this, I swear not,” he said. “I swear when I'm in battle. And that’s why I made those comments.”

“When you're in the heat, the adrenaline is pumping and the emotions are running high, you do it. When we say, 'Oh, the children, we have to take care of our children.' But they hear it everywhere. Swearing has changed from 20 years ago to today.

“If you insult someone, it’s a different story. But if you insult someone in the race, I understand that because you're going 350km/h and someone cuts you off, you don't say, 'Hi mate, you shouldn't do that.' will do that.'”

Steiner spoke to BBC Sport in an interview to mark his new book Unfiltered, in which he recounts his ten years leading the Haas team. He was fired last winter after a disagreement with owner Gene Haas.

In the book, Steiner criticizes the leadership of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, saying: “His era in charge has been chaotic so far and he has managed to anger almost every team and every team boss.”