Verstappen Says F1 Swearing Saga Could Speed Up F1 Retirement

Max Verstappen says the situation surrounding his sanction for swearing in a press conference is the type of “silly thing” that could accelerate his departure from Formula 1.

Verstappen, 26, is the reigning three-time world champion and holds a 52-point advantage over Lando Norris in his quest for a fourth straight crown.

Verstappen, who debuted in Formula 1 aged 17, is contracted to Red Bull through 2028 but has always indicated that he does not foresee staying in the championship long-term, having expressed a desire to try other motorsport disciplines.

Verstappen finished second at the Singapore Grand Prix but his weekend was dominated by the sanction he received for swearing in a press conference, and his subsequent stance in the aftermath.

He again cut a relatively taciturn figure in the official FIA post-race press conference before holding a separate media session inside Red Bull’s hospitality unit.

“For me personally, there is absolutely no desire to then give long answers, when you get treated like that,” Verstappen said of his conduct in the sessions organized by the FIA.

“For sure, these kind of things definitely decide my future as well. You know when you can't be yourself, or you have to deal with these kind of silly things. I think now I'm at the stage of my career that you don't want to be dealing with this all the time. It's really tiring.

“Of course, it's great to have success and win races, but you know, once you have accomplished all that winning championships and races, and then you want to just have a good time as well. Of course, everyone is pushing to the limit. Everyone in this paddock, even at the back of the grid. But if you have to deal with all these kind of silly things, for me, that is not a way of continuing in the sport, that's for sure.”

Verstappen said he had posted his punishment in the WhatsApp group chat involving all 20 drivers and that “everyone was almost laughing, you know, like, 'What the hell is that?',” highlighting the ridiculous nature of the situation.

Verstappen added that it was worth “taking a break from it all” for a couple of weeks, given that Formula 1 has an atypical gap in its schedule before the next round in Austin, from October 18 to 20, and that he will assess how he tackles FIA press conferences.

“I think you should be able to show emotions in a way,” Verstappen said. “That's what racing is about, or any sport. I mean, anyone walking around on a pitch, if they get tackled or get pushed, or they're not happy with something, or there's a frustrating moment or something that they get asked about. It's quite normal that there can be a sort of reaction.

“If you can't really be yourself to the fullest, then it's better not to speak. That's what no one wants, because then you become a robot and it is not how you should be going about it in the sport.”

When asked if the FIA’s actions risked pushing someone of his status out of the sport he said: “At the end of the day, I don’t know how serious they would take that kind of stuff. For me at one point, when it’s enough, it’s enough, and we’ll see. Like I said, racing will go on, F1 will go on also without me. It’s also not a problem for me. It’s how it is.”

What do you think? Is Verstappen getting bent out of shape for nothing? Should the FIA and F1 crack down on swearing, especially when it's captured by TV? Start the discussion in the comments section below!