Mongolia’s ambassador to United Nations, Lundeg Purevsuren, hopes that the FIA takes action against Max Verstappen for his unacceptable comment.
Ever since the radio comments made by Red Bull Racing’s Verstappen during the FP2 session of the F1 Portuguese GP at Algarve, the Dutchman has been in hot waters, especially for the words like ‘retard’ and ‘Mongol’ against Lance Stroll.
The two sorted the matter post the session as Verstappen clarified that his intention wasn’t to offend anyone, when asked about the same during the F1 Emilia Romagna GP at Imola. However, it hasn’t ended the matter for the Dutchman, with political figures getting in.
Mongolia’s ambassador to the UN, Purevsuren, has written letters to both Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and also Aston Martin’s CEO Tobias Moers, regarding the matter. In fact, he hopes that the FIA acts on its own ‘We Race As One’ initiative and takes action.
“I regret the use of racist and unethical language in public by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen during the practice of the Portuguese Grand Prix of the Formula One World Championship on 23 October 2020,” reads Purevsuren’s letter, as per multiple media outlets including Motorsport Network.
“Sport is considered a symbol of unity all over the world and I believe that there should not be any form of racial discrimination in sports. I support the ‘We Race as One’ initiative of the Formula 1 against racism. But due to the abovementioned incident, I doubt that this initiative meets the reality.
“I am confident that in order to prevent the recurrence of such unethical behaviour in sports, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) will take actions against Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for his unacceptable behaviour of repeatedly using racist and derogatory language against any ethnic groups.”
Verstappen has already been asked to apologise by Mongol Identity group, as they felt it was a wrong to put the term as a ridicule, with the word associated with Down Syndrome disability. With political figures involved, it puts the Dutchman in a spot of bother.
Red Bull F1 chief Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have both internally cautioned Verstappen to not use such words on radio in future, but it remains to be seen how the matter is dealt with now by the FIA.
Here’s Max Verstappen on not meaning to offend anyone
Here’s what happened between Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll