Max Verstappen, the Dutch Red Bull driver and three-time Formula 1 World Champion, has criticized the penalty he received for using offensive language, calling it “ridiculous” and hinting it could accelerate his departure from the sport.
Verstappen finished second behind McLaren’s Lando Norris in the Singapore Grand Prix, the 18th round of the World Championship. However, the penalty imposed by the FIA (International Automobile Federation) for his use of inappropriate language during a live press conference continued to dominate the conversation.
The 26-year-old driver expressed his frustration: “These kinds of things definitely affect my future. When you can’t be yourself or have to deal with such silly things, it makes you reconsider.”
Verstappen was penalized by the FIA after using offensive language during Thursday’s press conference. As a form of protest, he gave brief, non-committal answers, often responding with “no comment” during the official FIA press conference after Saturday’s qualifying.
After Sunday’s race, he again limited his responses but later held a longer press conference with select journalists inside Red Bull’s hospitality area. Speaking to the BBC, Verstappen shared his frustration: “I’m at a stage in my career where you don’t want to deal with this all the time. It’s really draining.”
He added, “For me, this isn’t the way to continue in the sport, that’s for sure.”
Although Verstappen is aiming for his fourth world title this season, he has previously indicated that a lengthy Formula 1 career isn’t on his agenda. He also expressed interest in exploring other forms of motorsport after his contract with Red Bull expires in 2028.
“Formula 1 will continue without me, and that’s fine. It’s not a problem for me either. That’s just the way things are,” he said.
Verstappen concluded by addressing the issue of self-expression in the sport: “If you can’t be fully yourself, it’s better not to speak at all. But nobody wants that because you’d end up being a robot, and that’s not how this sport should be.”
