Max Verstappen threatens to quit F1 following controversial community service penalty for bad language
The Dutchman has had enough.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris
Tom Jenkins
Topics: Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris
Max Verstappen has threatened to leave Formula 1 due to the "silly" rules following the World Champion receiving community service for swearing in a press conference.
Verstappen managed to do his talking on the track this weekend as he minimised the damage to his championship rival Lando Norris by finishing in second place.
While Verstappen may be happy with how it went on the track in Singapore, he is far from happy with the antics off it after the Dutchman became the first victim of the FIA’s clamp down on swearing.
After an investigation, Verstappen was given an obligation to accomplish some work of public interest after he claimed "the car was f****d" in a recent press conference.
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After refusing to give answers in the official FIA press conference, Verstappen took it upon himself to hold his own press conference in the F1 paddock where he conducted his own media duties where he made an extremely bold claim.
"These kinds of things definitely decide my future as well, when you can't be yourself or you have to deal with these kinds of silly things," he told reporters.
"Now I am at the stage of my career where you don't want to be dealing with this all the time. It's really tiring. For me, that is not a way of continuing in the sport, that's for sure."
Prior to his boycott of the FIA's press conferences, the three-time world champion defended his slip up claiming it does 'not change anything.'
"I couldn't even say the F-word and it's not even that bad right?" Verstappen claimed.
"I mean the car was not working, the car is effed, and excuse me for the language but come on, what are we? Five-year-olds? Six-year-olds? Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching they will eventually swear anyway, this is not changing anything," he added.
Verstappen has been defended by his fellow drivers with Hamilton stating: “It's a bit of a joke to be honest. This is the pinnacle of the sport, mistakes are made. I certainly wouldn't be doing it [the community service] and I hope Max doesn't do it.”
Norris also took the side of his rival, adding: "It's pretty unfair, I don't agree with any of it.”