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SINGAPORE — Max Verstappen called the FIA’s decision to sanction him for swearing “ridiculous” after appearing to protest the call by giving deliberately short answers in its news conference and telling journalists he would prefer to talk to them elsewhere.
On Friday, Verstappen was told he must complete community service for the FIA as punishment for swearing in Thursday’s pre-Singapore Grand Prix news conference arranged by Formula One’s governing body.
Verstappen had referred to his car as being “a bit f—ed,” and the stewards told him that it breached the FIA’s International Sporting Code for misconduct and that he had to be “mindful when speaking in public forums.”
In Singapore on Saturday, Verstappen appeared at the FIA news conference for the top three qualifiers after taking P2 on the grid behind title rival Lando Norris and gave deliberately brief answers.
Asked by the FIA-appointed news conference host if he could elaborate on some car changes, Verstappen said, “No. I might get fined or get an extra day,” in reference to his sanction. He told the host, “This is not towards you, don’t worry. I don’t want to upset you.”
When The Athletic asked Verstappen a question at the start of the print media section of the news conference, the Red Bull driver said, “I would prefer if you ask these questions outside the room.”
Verstappen then gave a thumbs-up when asked if he would talk to the journalists outside of the formal FIA news conference. He later joked that he had a “problem with my voice.”
Verstappen limited his answers to questions after qualifying in the FIA news conference. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Verstappen made good on that promise to the print media. He initially stopped outside the news conference room, but the FIA’s media delegate instructed him to go to the media pen. Verstappen said he would walk and talk to the growing crowd of almost a dozen journalists, who followed the Dutchman down two flights of stairs and halfway down the paddock as he made his way to the TV pen.
“I find it, of course, ridiculous what happened,” Verstappen said. “So why should I then give full answers (in the news conference)? Because it is very easy, apparently, that you get a fine or some sort of penalty. So I prefer then not to speak a lot, save my voice. Of course, we can do the interviews somewhere else.”
Verstappen said he thought the FIA gave him the sanction “because they want to set a precedent.” The ruling from the stewards came days after the body’s president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, called for a clampdown on drivers swearing over the radio during races, which sparked criticism from the grid.
“People got warnings or a little fine, and now with me they want to set an even bigger example I guess, which for me is a bit weird of course because I didn’t swear at anyone particularly. I just said one thing about my car,” Verstappen said.
“It’s in the (sporting) code, you know? They have to follow the (rule) book, and it’s not the stewards. I don’t want to blame this on the stewards because I actually had a really good chat with them, and they need to follow the code, the book. I think they are quite understanding, but it’s difficult for them as well.”
Verstappen reiterated that he thought what he said “wasn’t that bad” as it was aimed at his car, not anyone in particular. “I get that if you aim it at someone, that’s bad,” Verstappen said. “Emotions can run high. But it’s still not OK, I understand that. But I felt like it was quite ridiculous what was given to me.”
Verstappen’s news conference appearance came while sat alongside Norris and Lewis Hamilton, who qualified first and third. Both drivers criticized the sanction given to the reigning F1 world champion, while Verstappen’s brief answers amused Norris in particular.
“I think it’s pretty unfair,” Norris said of Verstappen’s sanction. “I don’t agree with any of it.”
Hamilton described the ruling as “a bit of a joke, to be honest.” Earlier this week, Hamilton had called out Ben Sulayem for using a “racial element” when making his comments about driver swearing.
The Mercedes driver said that he hoped Verstappen would not do the community service, which would be undertaken at an FIA-sanctioned event or club.
“This is the pinnacle of the sport,” Hamilton said. “Mistakes are made. I certainly wouldn’t be doing it, and I hope Max doesn’t do it.”
With seven races remaining this season, Verstappen leads Norris by 59 points at the top of the drivers’ championship. However, he has seen his lead dwindle in recent races after failing to win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
Verstappen said in the pre-press conference interview with F1 — which is independent of the FIA — that he was pleased with second place on the grid after struggling to 15th in practice on Friday. He also had his first Q3 lap deleted due to double yellow flags being shown after Carlos Sainz’s crash.
“I’m happy to be on the front row if you look at where we came from yesterday,” Verstappen said. “Q3 was tough. Your lap gets, of course, canceled with the double yellow, then everyone only has one run to do the lap. You don’t want to overdo it, so you want to stay within the limit. I’ll take second, I’m happy with that.”
GO DEEPER
F1 drivers weigh in on FIA push to limit radio swearing: ‘What are we? Five-year-olds?’
Top photo: Clive Rose/Formula 1 via Getty Images
