Why Max Verstappen’s eventual exit from Formula 1 could be hastened by FIA action over swearing
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SINGAPORE — Max Verstappen has always made it clear that he will not be on the grid forever, no matter how much he loves racing and winning in Formula 1.
As the youngest competitor and winner of a race ever in the sport’s history and one of its most prolific winners, a long career a la Fernando Alonso or Kimi Raikkonen would ensure that the championship and the victories of Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher come within Verstappen’s reach.
He’s never cared about records. And he’s never cared about the all-encompassing nature of F1, with its ever-lengthening calendar. As Verstappen made clear in August at Zandvoort, where he made his 200th F1 start, he’s closer to the end of his F1 career than to the start — even at 26.
The thought of what life after Formula 1 will look like, even with one of the most lucrative contracts in Formula 1 running until 2028, looms large in Verstappen’s worldview.
The events of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend may have only accelerated that thinking for Verstappen. On track, it was his best race in almost a month. Second place was a great result considering how bleak the outlook was at one point in the weekend and that it was an overall defeat to title rival Lando Norris,
But off the track, it was the FIA’s response to Verstappen’s comments that caused justified frustration among the three-time world champion.
His use of a single word (“f—ed”) during Thursday’s press conference, while talking about his car — an inanimate object with no feelings — prompted the FIA to take action and label it “misconduct.” It was a move that appeared to be aimed at making an example of Verstappen, who is required to perform community service for Formula 1’s governing body.
Verstappen responded with a protest at the FIA’s post-qualifying press conference on Saturday, giving deliberately short answers because he feared he would be fined or have another day added to his sanction. He was happy to speak to journalists outside the room, calling the decision “ridiculous”.
GALLING DEEPER
Max Verstappen calls punishment for swearing ‘ridiculous’ after protest at FIA press conference
The protest softened a bit on Sunday. His answers were longer, but still short. When The Athletics When asked if he would rather speak outside the press conference, Verstappen replied: “It was a long day. Yes.”
By then, Red Bull had already scheduled a separate press conference for Verstappen in the team’s hospitality unit, immediately following the press conference. There, the Dutchman’s demeanor changed and returned to his usual exuberant and (importantly) opinionated self.
“For me personally, there is absolutely no need to give long answers when you are treated like that,” Verstappen said. He knew he had met the requirements to attend the press conference and give answers, however short they were. Even the FIA would have admitted it was a clever tactic.
The statement itself still angered Verstappen. He posted about it in the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association WhatsApp group with all the other F1 drivers, saying: “Everyone was almost laughing, you know, ‘What the hell is that?’ Actually. So yeah, it’s very, very stupid.”
Verstappen has previously indicated that his retirement could come sooner rather than later. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
But Verstappen also had the bigger picture in mind. If F1 continues down this path, where drivers can’t be their authentic selves, that will obviously affect how long he wants to stay on the grid.
“For sure, these kinds of things definitely define my future,” Verstappen said. “You know when you can’t be yourself, or you have to deal with these kinds of nonsense. I think I’m at a stage in my career now where you don’t want to be dealing with this all the time. It’s really tiring.”
Verstappen knows what it’s like to win races and championships. And he wants to enjoy his time in racing. “But when you have to deal with all this kind of nonsense, that’s no way for me to continue in the sport, that’s for sure,” Verstappen said.
He also criticised the penalty given to Carlos Sainz for crossing the track on foot under a red flag to return to the pit lane after his qualifying crash on Saturday. “I mean, what are we talking about? It’s a red flag,” Verstappen said. “There are cars coming in. I think it’s quite safe and he knows what he’s doing. We’re not stupid. These kinds of things, like when I saw it being noticed, I thought, ‘my god…'”
It undermines Verstappen’s love for Formula 1. No, there’s no need to swear. But everyone in the paddock is an adult and for many people, English isn’t their first language. Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff also pointed out that a press conference isn’t meant to be broadcast widely, as it’s primarily for the media. To come down so hard on the world champion because of one careless word seemed harsh to me.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner felt the FIA could have handled it better and “avoided any awkwardness”. “We’ve had members of the royal family telling photographers to take a f—ing picture,” Horner said, referring to Prince Phillip’s filmed comment in 2015. Horner used the word during a media session, not the FIA press conference, putting it outside the governing body’s jurisdiction.
The commotion has meant that any swearing in the paddock this weekend has become a source of humour. Horner called race winner Lando Norris a “lucky guy” for looking at the wall during the race and joked that he hoped he wouldn’t be punished for it. When a journalist used a swear word when asking Verstappen a question, the world champion pulled a shocked face and joked that they should be careful.
Verstappen was unsure how the issue would be resolved. He said he did not mind holding separate media sessions in addition to the press conference and that any discussion should involve the FIA and its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, as well as Formula One management.
But if the existing approach remains static and not open to flexibility, it could play a role in costing the grid not only one of its greatest talents but also one of its most honest characters. At a time when F1 continues to grow and want to glorify its drivers as gladiators, it seems like a retrograde step.
“If you can’t be completely yourself, it’s better not to talk,” said Verstappen.
“Nobody wants that, because then you become a robot, and that’s not how you should do that in sports.
“It’s the wrong way to create that (authenticity).”
GALLING DEEPER
F1 drivers weigh in on FIA attempt to limit radio swearing: ‘What are we? Five-year-olds?’
Top photo: SIPA USA
