McLaren head Ron Dennis criticised quadruple Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel on Sunday after the Red Bull driver described the sound of the sport’s new V6 turbo engines as ‘shit’.

The German driver had made his opinion clear at the Malaysian GP when asked about the much quieter units that have replaced the screaming V8s.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt, president of the FIA, agreed at the Bahrain GP on Sunday that the sound would be tweaked with the full agreement of teams.

While the FIA has cautioned drivers about keeping their language clean in public in the past, Todt said he respected Vettel’s opinion and would be happy to discuss the situation.

But Dennis was unimpressed.

“Being a world champion requires a dignified approach to everything, so putting aside the language, even the sentiment is inappropriate,” said the Briton.

“The fact is if he was sat in a Mercedes he would be extremely happy, and I’m quite sure any four or five-letter words would be more of joy.

“He should just reflect on the fact he has had a period of dominance, and just because that dominance is being shaken by Mercedes, doesn’t give him the licence to be disrespectful of the obligations placed on him as a world champion.”