Max Verstappen gave the media a lesson in brevity during the Singapore Grand Prix’s post-qualifying press conference, answering questions with the enthusiasm of a man attending a root canal in response to the FIA's crackdown on strong language.
The Dutchman, known for his fiery comments both on and off the track, was handed a "work of public interest" punishment by the FIA for including the F-word while describing his Red Bull car in Thursday’s presser.
In the official post-qualifying session with the media moderated by Tom Clarkson, Verstappen kept his answers short and sweet – or rather, short and salty – responding with one-word answers.
He jokingly attributed his reticence to “something with my voice,” but later, in an unofficial session outside the press room, in a proper old-school media scrum in the paddock, he revealed his true feelings about the whole situation.
"I find it, of course, ridiculous what happens. So why should I then give full answers? Because I might...it's very easily, apparently you get a fine, or you get some sort of penalties,” he said.
"I prefer then not to speak a lot, save my voice and I mean, we can do the interviews also somewhere else, if you need some answers to the questions asked.”
Verstappen’s frustration with the FIA’s new policy on swearing was palpable. The governing body has decided to take a hardline approach, and Verstappen feels he has become the poster child for their crackdown.
"They want to set the precedent, and people got warnings or a little fine. Now with me, they wanted 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. But it's in the code, so they have to follow the book.”
The three-time world champion made it clear that his gripe wasn’t with the stewards themselves, who he felt were just doing their jobs.
"I don't want to blame this on the stewards, because I actually had a really good chat with them. They just have to follow the code, you know, and the book. I think they're quite understanding, but it's difficult for them as well,” he added.
"I think what I said wasn't that bad. And, of course, I get if you aim it at someone I think that's bad. Of course emotions can run high, but that's still not okay. I understand that, but I felt like it was quite ridiculous what was given to me."
Verstappen was flanked by Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton in the press conference, and the pair seemed to share the championship leader’s bewilderment.
Norris, in a classic display of driver camaraderie, first joked that Verstappen “deserved it” before adding, “I think it’s pretty unfair, I don’t agree with any of it.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton took a more rebellious stance, calling the punishment “a bit of a joke” and advising Verstappen to skip the community service altogether. "I certainly wouldn’t be doing it," quipped the Mercedes driver.
Verstappen’s novel protest certainly made an impression, but it remains to be seen whether his stance will lead to any changes in the FIA’s approach.
Until then, the Dutchman seems content to keep his words—and his frustration—to himself.
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