Formula 1 cut the audio from the Singapore Grand Prix cooldown room after Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli began using strong language while watching back highlights of the race they had just completed. The three drivers had finished first, second and third respectively and were still reacting naturally to what had happened on track when the sound suddenly disappeared from the television broadcast.
Max Verstappen had just won the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix weekend, with Charles Leclerc second and Kimi Antonelli third. Moments after climbing out of their cars, the podium trio gathered in the cooldown room at Marina Bay and began reviewing the key incidents on the monitor.
F1 cuts Singapore cooldown room audio after drivers start swearing
The conversation initially began normally. Within a matter of seconds, however, all three drivers let slip some strong language as they reacted to the race footage.
The entire scene was captured by Formula 1’s cameras and broadcast live by television networks holding the relevant rights. The three drivers watched the replay with the spontaneity of people still fully immersed in the race they had just finished.
When Charles Leclerc watched the start again, the Ferrari driver reacted by saying, “F***, what a start.” Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli then also used language that was not particularly suitable for a live television broadcast.
Shortly afterwards, something unusual happened. The conversation between the three drivers could no longer be heard. The broadcast itself continued without interruption and the pictures from the cooldown room remained on screen, but the audio feed from the room had been muted.
For more coverage of the Ferrari driver throughout the season, the latest updates are available in the Charles Leclerc news section.
Max Verstappen had already faced controversy over language in Singapore
The best-known previous incident involving strong language in Singapore also concerned Max Verstappen. In 2024, the Red Bull driver was punished after using a vulgar expression during an official press conference.
That situation was different, however, because it took place during an FIA event. The cooldown room is instead part of Formula 1’s television production environment, making the circumstances surrounding the two incidents distinct.
Spontaneous podium reaction creates unusual Singapore moment
The scene after the Marina Bay race was particularly entertaining precisely because of how spontaneous it was. Max Verstappen had just taken victory, Charles Leclerc had finished second and Kimi Antonelli third, yet instead of immediately delivering the usual polished interview-style comments, the three began discussing what had happened on track much as they might have done without microphones around them.
The problem was that, at least initially, those microphones really were live. Once the language became unsuitable for the television broadcast, Formula 1 was left showing the images while removing the drivers’ voices from the feed.
The Singapore event forms part of the wider 2026 Formula 1 calendar, with the Marina Bay weekend producing not only a closely watched podium but also one of the more unusual post-race television moments of the season.
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