Verstappen ends press conference boycott with 'nice guy' remark

Max Verstappen has ended his FIA press conference boycott after returning to winning ways in the United States Grand Prix sprint. The three-time F1 champion ended a four-month-long wait to take the chequered flag, doing so with ease at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin where he led from start to finish for the second consecutive year at the Texan venue. The win also maintained the Red Bull driver's 100 per cent record in sprints this season as he is now four from four, opening up a 54-point lead over Lando Norris in the drivers' standings after the Briton finished third.  Verstappen's result afforded him the opportunity to take part in the top-three FIA press conference, with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz joining the Dutchman and former McLaren team-mate Norris after finishing second. Taking questions from host Tom Clarkson, it was a case of whether Verstappen would continue his performance from Singapore where his answers were curt in response to being handed a form of community service by the FIA after using the f-word in the official drivers' press conference on Thursday ahead of the event at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Verstappen additionally held his own briefings with written media outside of the press conference room, and went so far at one stage to suggest that his exasperation with the pernicious nature of the regulations could advance his retirement from F1.  On this occasion, Verstappen answered Clarkson's questions in full, as well as those from assembled media in the room. When asked specifically whether his responses signalled an end to his boycott, Verstappen smiled and replied: "No, I'm just a good person!"