Max Verstappen has threatened that he may leave Formula One because of his dissatisfaction with how the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is running the sport and what he referred to as the governing body’s “silly” insistence on pursuing issues such as drivers swearing, for which he was punished at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Verstappen finished second behind McLaren’s Lando Norris at the Marina Bay circuit on Sunday, with the British driver cutting the world champion’s title lead to 52 points. Afterwards, Verstappen launched a broadside at the FIA after he had been given a community service punishment for swearing in the press conference held pre-race on Thursday, when he described his car as “fucked”.
Verstappen had already made his displeasure with their decision clear and when asked after the race if these types of petty altercations with the governing body would impact on his future in the sport, the 26-year-old was unequivocal. “For sure, yeah,” he said. “I mean, these kinds of things definitely decide my future as well. When you can’t be yourself, you have to deal with these kinds of silly things. Now I’m at a stage of my career that I don’t want to be dealing with this all the time. It’s really tiring.”