\n<\/p>\n
On Friday in Singapore, Verstappen was ordered by race stewards to “accomplish some work of public interest”. It was a punishment for swearing while describing his car\u2019s performance at the previous race in Baku while speaking in the official pre-event news conference on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He staged a protest against the decision by giving short answers in the official post-qualifying news conference on Saturday, before speaking to journalists outside the room.<\/p>\n
He called the penalty “ridiculous” and was backed by title rival Lando Norris and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.<\/p>\n
After finishing second to Norris in the grand prix, Verstappen conducted the post-race news conference in a similar manner, before speaking to the written media extensively in the Red Bull hospitality unit.<\/p>\n
He described the situation as “silly”, and said he was being deprived of the ability to be his authentic self.<\/p>\n
“If you can\u2019t really be yourself to the fullest, then it\u2019s better not to speak,” Verstappen said. “But that\u2019s what no one wants because then you become a robot and that\u2019s not how you should be going about it in the sport.<\/p>\n
“You should be able to show emotions in a way. That\u2019s what racing is about. Any sport.<\/p>\n
“Anyone on the pitch, if they get tackled, or get pushed or they are not happy with something or there is a frustrating moment, or something they get asked about, it\u2019s quite normal there can be a sort of reaction.”<\/p>\n
Asked whether he had told governing body the FIA it risked pushing him out of the sport, he said: “I don\u2019t know how seriously they will take that kind of stuff, but for me when it\u2019s enough, it\u2019s enough and we\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n
“Racing will go on, F1 will go on without me. It\u2019s not a problem. But also it\u2019s not a problem for me. It\u2019s how it is.”<\/p>\n
Verstappen said he felt he had been treated unfairly, especially as he had always tried to help out the governing body if asked.<\/p>\n
“There is of course no desire to then give long answers there when you get treated like that,” he said. “I never really felt like I had a bad relationship with them.<\/p>\n
“Even this year I did voluntary work with junior stewards. I gave them half an hour interview. It was all set up. I try to help out if they have little favours or whatever.<\/p>\n
“I am not a difficult person to say no, I am like: ‘OK, sure, if that\u2019s what you guys like, I like to help out.’ And then I get treated like that. Well, that\u2019s just not how it works.<\/p>\n
“So for me it was just quite straightforward, I know I have to answer [in the news conference] but it doesn\u2019t say how long you have to answer for.”<\/p>\n
Verstappen said the other F1 drivers, who work together on rules issues under the auspices of the Grand Prix Drivers\u2019 Association (GPDA), backed him.<\/p>\n
“I wrote in the GPDA [WhatsApp chat] the ruling and everyone was almost laughing,” he said. “Like, ‘what the hell is that?’ So it is very silly.”<\/p>\n
Verstappen was asked how long he would continue to behave in such a manner in news conferences, and said he would “see where we are at” by the time of the next race, the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on 18-20 October.<\/p>\n
Implying that other decisions by officials were ill-considered, he referenced the decision to fine Ferrari\u2019s Carlos Sainz 25,000 euros (\u00a321,000) for crossing the track after crashing in qualifying.<\/p>\n
“Carlos got a fine for crossing the track as well, right?” Verstappen said. “I mean, what are we talking about? It\u2019s a red flag, cars are coming in, it\u2019s quite safe and he knows what he\u2019s doing. We are not stupid.<\/p>\n
“These kind of things – when I saw it even getting noted [by the stewards], I was like, ‘My god, what are we dealing with?’ These kinds of things are super-silly.”<\/p>\n
Asked whether he was prepared to discuss the matter with Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of FIA, Verstappen said: “It\u2019s not only FIA, it\u2019s also F1. It\u2019s a whole how you operate together.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n