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Max Verstappen

Verstappen: F1 going 'soft' after FIA f-word fallout

Max Verstappen is clearly becoming increasingly fed up with the way F1 is heading

Verstappen Singapore
Article
To news overview © XPBimages

Max Verstappen feels F1 is becoming "all a bit too soft" following his fallout with the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

After finishing a distant runner-up to McLaren's Lando Norris in the Singapore Grand Prix, Verstappen again took it upon himself to deliver short responses to the questions posed to him during the official FIA top-three press conference, as he had done so the day before after finishing second quickest in qualifying.

And for the second successive day, Verstappen proceeded to stage a more expansive written media briefing afterwards. Post-qualifying, it was a huddle in the paddock. Post-race, it was inside Red Bull's paddock building at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

It all followed the 'community service' punishment meted out to him by the FIA after he used the f-word during Thursday's official FIA drivers' press conference, which had come hours after Ben Sulayem had said he wanted drivers to cut out swearing as they were "not rappers".

Explaining his feelings on the situation and his penalty, Verstappen said: "For me personally, there is absolutely no desire to give long answers when you get treated like that.

"I never really felt like I had a bad relationship with him [Ben Sulayem]. Even this year, I did voluntary work with junior stewards, giving a half-an-hour interview they set up. So I tried to help out, to give little favours or whatever. I'm not a difficult person who will say no.

"[I am more like] 'Okay, sure, if that's what you guys like, I like to help out', and then you get treated like that. That's just not how it works.

"So for me, it was quite straightforward. Because I know I have to answer [in an FIA press conference], but it doesn't say how long you have to answer for."

Verstappen not a robot

Post-qualifying, Verstappen had said he was being made an example of by the FIA considering previous punishments for the use of bad language in an FIA press conference, such as Fred Vasseur and Toto Wolff in Las Vegas last year, resulted in only formal warnings for the Ferrari and Mercedes team principals.

The three-time F1 champion feels what has unfolded over the past few days is a further poor indicator of the direction the sport is heading.

Asked whether he had any idea as to why he had been treated in such a way, he replied: "It's just the wording, the ruling, that the sport is heading into for me personally, you know, with these kind of things.

"I know, of course, you can't insult people. That is quite straightforward, and no one really wants to do that.

"It's all a bit too soft really, and honestly, it's silly. It's super silly what we're dealing with."

For Verstappen, he firmly believes he is being denied the opportunity to be authentic. "For sure.

"If you can't really be yourself to the fullest, then it's better not to speak. At the end of the day, that's what no one wants because then you become a robot, and it's now how you should be going about it in the sport."

Also interesting:

Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back on last weekend's Singapore Grand Prix. Max Verstappen's punishment for swearing and Daniel Ricciardo's likely last F1 race are major talking points.

Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!

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  1. https://cdn.racingnews365.com/Avatars/small/default.png

    steve-goedhals#94224

    This little upstart has no upbringing, he has never been taught manners because his father has none either. He has never been taught that type of language is unacceptable on a hi profile public platform. Maybe he thinks it's funny, I don't. It definitely doesn't belong on air. I have lost all respect for him

    • https://cdn.racingnews365.com/Avatars/small/default.png

      Patrick Chapman

      You are absolutely correct and I agree with your comment 100% If it carries on like this I will stop my grandchildren from watching F1. Mt grandchildren have not been allowed to watch Netflix because of Gunther Steiner and his foul mouth and I won't put up with it on F1. They watch MotoGp and you never hear a sweay word.

  2. https://cdn.racingnews365.com/Avatars/small/avatars_helmets/avatars_helmets_2024_sp.png

    BeniHana

    It is funny to me that the FIA is bringing this up now, in the middle of the season several races after Max went off on his team. I also find that it is a minor issue that could of been handled privately and not made into another huge scandal as if this helps F1 at all, or is that the point of the exercise? Gain some promotion of Max in a black hat is at it again, tune in for the Austin showdown. Feels slimy and unnecessary.

RESULTS 2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix - Free Practice 2