Max Verstappen: Issues such as swearing punishment ‘not a way of continuing’ in Formula 1

On Friday in Singapore, Verstappen was ordered by race stewards to “accomplish some work of public interest”. It was a punishment for swearing while describing his car’s performance at the previous race in Baku while speaking in the official pre-event news conference on Thursday.

He staged a protest against the decision by giving short answers in the official post-qualifying news conference on Saturday, before speaking to journalists outside the room.

He called the penalty “ridiculous” and was backed by title rival Lando Norris and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.

After finishing second to Norris in the grand prix, Verstappen conducted the post-race news conference in a similar manner, before speaking to the written media extensively in the Red Bull hospitality unit.

He described the situation as “silly”, and said he was being deprived of the ability to be his authentic self.

“If you can’t really be yourself to the fullest, then it’s better not to speak,” Verstappen said. “But that’s what no one wants because then you become a robot and that’s not how you should be going about it in the sport.

“You should be able to show emotions in a way. That’s what racing is about. Any sport.

“Anyone on the pitch, if they get tackled, or get pushed or they are not happy with something or there is a frustrating moment, or something they get asked about, it’s quite normal there can be a sort of reaction.”

Asked whether he had told governing body the FIA it risked pushing him out of the sport, he said: “I don’t know how seriously they will take that kind of stuff, but for me when it’s enough, it’s enough and we’ll see.

“Racing will go on, F1 will go on without me. It’s not a problem. But also it’s not a problem for me. It’s how it is.”

Verstappen said he felt he had been treated unfairly, especially as he had always tried to help out the governing body if asked.

“There is of course no desire to then give long answers there when you get treated like that,” he said. “I never really felt like I had a bad relationship with them.

“Even this year I did voluntary work with junior stewards. I gave them half an hour interview. It was all set up. I try to help out if they have little favours or whatever.

“I am not a difficult person to say no, I am like: ‘OK, sure, if that’s what you guys like, I like to help out.’ And then I get treated like that. Well, that’s just not how it works.

“So for me it was just quite straightforward, I know I have to answer [in the news conference] but it doesn’t say how long you have to answer for.”

Verstappen said the other F1 drivers, who work together on rules issues under the auspices of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), backed him.

“I wrote in the GPDA [WhatsApp chat] the ruling and everyone was almost laughing,” he said. “Like, ‘what the hell is that?’ So it is very silly.”

Verstappen was asked how long he would continue to behave in such a manner in news conferences, and said he would “see where we are at” by the time of the next race, the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on 18-20 October.

Implying that other decisions by officials were ill-considered, he referenced the decision to fine Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz 25,000 euros (£21,000) for crossing the track after crashing in qualifying.

“Carlos got a fine for crossing the track as well, right?” Verstappen said. “I mean, what are we talking about? It’s a red flag, cars are coming in, it’s quite safe and he knows what he’s doing. We are not stupid.

“These kind of things – when I saw it even getting noted [by the stewards], I was like, ‘My god, what are we dealing with?’ These kinds of things are super-silly.”

Asked whether he was prepared to discuss the matter with Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of FIA, Verstappen said: “It’s not only FIA, it’s also F1. It’s a whole how you operate together.”