World champion Max Verstappen has expressed his frustration over a community service punishment for swearing, threatening that it could hasten his exit from Formula One.
Verstappen finished second to Lando Norris at the Singapore Grand Prix, but the controversy surrounding his punishment continued to overshadow the race. The Red Bull driver was sanctioned by the FIA after using the F-word in a live press conference on Thursday.
In response, Verstappen staged a one-man protest by giving only short answers or offering “no comment” to reporters in the official FIA post-qualifying press conference on Saturday. After Sunday’s race, he again limited his responses before conducting a lengthy press conference with some members of the written press inside the Red Bull hospitality unit.
“These kinds of things definitely decide my future as well, when you can’t be yourself or you have to deal with these kinds of silly things,” the 26-year-old said. “I am at the stage of my career where you don’t want to be dealing with this all the time. It’s really tiring.”
Verstappen is chasing a fourth world title this season, but he has said in the past that a long career in Formula One is not on his agenda. He is also keen to explore other forms of motor racing once his current contract with Red Bull ends in 2028.
“F1 will go on without me. It’s not a problem and also not a problem for me. It’s how it is,” he added. “If you can’t really be yourself to the fullest, then it’s better not to speak. But that’s what no one wants because then you become a robot and that’s not how you should be going about it in the sport.”
Verstappen’s comments have raised concerns about his future in Formula One. The Dutchman is one of the most talented drivers in the sport, and his departure would be a major blow to the series. However, it is clear that Verstappen is frustrated with the FIA’s decision, and it remains to be seen whether he will continue to race in Formula One beyond his current contract.
