SINGAPORE, Sept 21 (Askume) – Max Verstappen defied Formula One’s governing body during his Singapore Grand Prix press conference on Saturday, with Lewis Hamilton suggesting the defending champion should not be punished for swearing.
FIA officials were sworn in at an official press conference on Thursday after the Red Bull Championship leaders were sworn inHe was ordered to perform work equivalent to community service.
Verstappen addressed the crowd and broadcasters after finishing second in Sunday’s race but suddenly went silent during the FIA press conference with the top three drivers.
Asked what changes he had made to the car overnight, Verstappen said simply, “Many”.
Asked to elaborate, he said: “No, I could be fined or sentenced to an extra day in prison.”
When asked if he was confident about the game’s pace, he said, “Maybe,” and in response to a question about whether the game was a step toward the unknown, he said, “It’s the unknown. Yes.”
When asked about his race strategy, he said, “I’ll figure that out tomorrow.”
The three-time world champion told reporters afterward that he wanted questions outside the room and declined when asked if he would speak elsewhere.
When asked if he might receive another fine and possibly more community service for his actions, the short answer was “no comment.”
“I’m answering. Not much,” Verstappen said later in response to a question. “There’s something wrong with my voice.”
Pole-sitter McLaren driver Lando Norris initially joked that Verstappen should be penalized but later clarified he was supporting his friend and rival.
“I think it’s very unfair. I don’t agree with any of it,” he said.
Seven times world champion Hamilton agreed, saying: “To be honest, I think it’s a bit of a joke. It’s the pinnacle of sport. Mistakes happen. I definitely wouldn’t do it (community service). Don’t do it. Same thing,” he said.
Verstappen later said in an interview with Sky Sports TV that the penalty was ridiculous and called it a “momentary mistake”, but he did not blame the stewards.
“I actually had a good conversation with them about it. They were very understanding, but these are the rules and they have to enforce something. But for me, this is not the right way to move our sport forward,” he said.
The FIA has banned such events since the UAE’s Mohammed bin Sulayem took office at the end of 2021.
Ben Sulayem said earlier this week that drivers are not rappers, comments that particularly angered Hamilton, the sport’s only black driver, who criticised him for having a racial element.
