Max Verstappen has been handed an unusual punishment by the FIA stewards after swearing during Thursday's FIA press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix. 

The reigning champion and championship leader made his comments using inappropriate language when asked why his teammate Sergio Perez was faster than him in Baku last weekend.

“I don't know, man. Different set-up. So as soon as I went into qualifying, I knew the car was f***ed.”

Host Tom Clarkson reminded Verstappen to watch his language before asking him a question about swearing, to which Verstappen responded: “The car was not working, the car is f***ed' – and [it's] 'excuse me for the language.

“But, come on. Like, what are we? Five-year-olds? Six-year-olds? Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching, they will eventually swear anyway,” the world champion added.

This happened right after the FIA president Ben Sulayem made a bad language awareness statement.

“I mean, we have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music,” Ben Sulayem said for Autosport.

“We're not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That's them and we are [us].”

Following that, Verstappen was summoned to the stewards, who have now released a statement about the outcome of the situation, which makes Verstappen 'obliged to accomplish some work of public interest'.

"The stewards reviewed the transcript of the FIA Thursday driver press conference in Singapore and Max Verstappen, driver of car 1, used language to describe his car at the event in Azerbaijan which is generally considered “coarse, rude” or may “cause offense” and is not considered suitable for broadcast.

"This is 'Misconduct' as defined in Art 20 of the International Sporting Code, and is a breach of Art 12.2.1.k.

"The stewards noted that the language was not directed at anyone or any group.

"When summoned to the stewards the driver explained that the word used is ordinary in speech as he learned it, English not being his native language.

"While the stewards accept that this may be true, it is important for role models to learn to be mindful when speaking in public forums, in particular when not under any particular pressure. Verstappen apologised for his behaviour.

"The stewards note that significant fines have been levied for language offensive to or directed at specific groups. This is not the case here.

"But, as this topic has been raised before and is well known by the competitors, the stewards determined to order a greater penalty than previously and that Verstappen be 'obliged to accomplish some work of public interest' (Art. 12.4.1.d of the International Sporting Code), in coordination with the Secretary General for Sport of the FIA."