Max Verstappen expressed frustration with the FIA’s recent string of rulings, particularly the one summoning him for using foul language during a press conference. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, the Red Bull Racing driver also criticized the decision to penalize Carlos Sainz for crossing the track, deeming it unjustified.
On Thursday, Verstappen was summoned by the FIA stewards after dropping an f-bomb while describing his car in Baku. As a result, he was handed a penalty of community service.
In protest, Verstappen kept his answers brief during the post-qualifying press conference, choosing instead to hold a separate media session off-camera with the written press. A similar scenario unfolded post-race, where the reigning champion again limited his responses to short, one-sentence answers.
Red Bull subsequently arranged another session with written media in their hospitality area.
When asked about a potential consensus among drivers regarding FIA decisions, Verstappen suggested that many of his peers shared his disappointment. He specifically pointed to the penalty imposed on Carlos Sainz, who was fined €25,000 for crossing the track after crashing during qualifying under a red flag.
Verstappen felt that Sainz’s actions were safe and that the punishment was excessive. Asked by Sportskeeda if other drivers were going to protest these decisions along with him, the Dutchman said:
“I mean, yes, I think Carlos got to find the track as well, right? I mean, what are we talking about? It's a red flag, even getting noted, I'm like, my god, what are we doing? You know, these kind of things are just, for me, super sily, cars are coming in. I think it's quite safe. And he knows what he's doing, and we're not stupid. But yeah, these kind of things, when I saw it, even getting noted, I'm like, my god."
Max Verstappen feels certain FIA rules and judgments on conduct could push drivers out of the sport
Max Verstappen expressed concern that the FIA’s restrictions on drivers’ ability to openly express themselves could impact not only the enjoyment of the sport but also the longevity of his career. The reigning champion found it baffling that drivers were being limited in how they could express their emotions and opinions, citing recent rulings as a source of frustration.
Verstappen believes that these decisions by the regulatory body are making the sport less enjoyable, hinting that such constraints could shorten his own time in Formula 1.
Asked if the recent rulings risked pushing drivers, even a multiple world champion out of the sport, Verstappen said:
“It's an idea. I mean, I don't know how serious they will take that kind of stuff. But for me, of course, at one point, when it's And we'll see, I mean, like I said, racing will go on. F1 will go on, so without me, it's not a problem. It's not a problem for me, you know, so it's how it is."
Asked how it can be resolved, he replied:
“I think about all these latest additions I just said. But I also don't want to go too much into it because otherwise I might get called back up again.”
Asked if it impacted the longevity of his own career, Max Verstappen said:
“I mean these kind of things definitely design my future as well. You know, you can't be yourself, or you have to deal with these kind of silly things. I think now I'm at stage of my career that you don't want to be dealing with this all the time. It's really tiring you know. Yeah, of course, it's great to have success and win races. But once you have accomplished all that - winning championships and races - and then you want to just have a good time as well. Of course, everyone is pushing to the limit, everyone in this battle, even at the back of the grid. But if you have to deal with all these kinds of silly things... for me, that is not a way of continuing in the sport, that's for sure.”
As Verstappen addressed the media, including Sportskeeda, he admitted that he preferred more intimate sit-down sessions over larger press conferences, where he felt restricted in expressing himself. The Dutchman finished second in the Singapore GP, with his title contender Lando Norris securing the win.
Despite the setback, Verstappen still leads the championship by 52 points, though his margin has shrunk by 10 points after the Baku race. Mathematically, he now needs to finish second in every remaining race, including the sprint events, to secure the title.