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Max Verstappen is annoyed by the media and the FIA’s rules. The Dutchman is increasingly silent about sensitive subjects because he fears fines or other penalties. Moreover, he is bothered by the questioning of many journalists.
The 27-year-old Verstappen was asked at the FIA press conference in Austria on Thursday whether he should not adjust his driving style, as he is only one penalty point away from a race suspension. “You’re joking, right? Are you trying to trap me?” the Red Bull driver sighed. “I’ve been getting that question for weeks now. I have nothing extra to say about it.”
Verstappen also kept his lips sealed on controversial topics afterwards. Is Formula 1 over-regulated? “No comment.” Should the system around penalty points be changed? “I’m not going to get into that.”
Verstappen’s attitude is totally different than, say, two or three years ago. Back then, he almost never held back and said what he thought. That has been different since the Singapore Grand Prix last year. Then he received a community service order because he had cursed at a press conference.
A few hours after the press conference, Verstappen was answering questions from about ten Dutch journalists in Red Bull’s motorhome. The international press moment from earlier that afternoon was also discussed there.
“It was great again,” Verstappen said cynically. “I can really enjoy that. Am I getting tired of getting the same question every time? Yes. That’s why I don’t say so much. It makes it easier for me. I say ‘no comment’ and then it’s done.”
‘Even if I have an opinion about something, I don’t have to say everything’
Verstappen’s irritation does not only stem from the questioning of some journalists. It is also about the fact that he constantly has to pay attention to what he says because of the FIA’s rules. “That’s the way it is anyway. We know that now. And I don’t have to answer certain things. Even if I have an opinion about something, I still don’t have to say something.”
Verstappen also doesn’t do that when asked if he finds it strange that Lando Norris did not receive a penalty point after his action on McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in Canada. “I am not allowed to be critical. Not only at the press conference, I am not allowed to do that here either. Then it’s again ‘Max says this and Max says that’. They can also get upset about that.”
And what about the penalty point system? Is there no alternative to that? Many other drivers are outspoken about this and think that the regulations need to be overhauled. Verstappen: “Let other drivers say something about that. No penalty points, that’s possible. But I’m not in charge of that. I’m not very interested in it either.”
Verstappen has the feeling that he can no longer give his real opinion anywhere without consequences. “Everything can be experienced as criticism and then I can get a penalty. That is very clear in the regulations. They (the FIA, ed.) can interpret something that is critical towards them. So I prefer to say nothing.”
Verstappen doesn’t think a turnaround is realistic
Verstappen does want to say something about his sporting ambitions. Red Bull has come to Austria with a substantial package of updates that should help the team further forward. There will also be new parts next week at Silverstone, but after that it is pretty much done.
“There are still a few races where something can happen. Hopefully this will help, but I don’t know if it will be enough. The others are not standing still either. And given the standings, it is not very realistic that we can turn it around.”
In the standings, Verstappen is 43 points behind WK leader Piastri. Verstappen scored 155 of Red Bull’s 162 points this season. “Whether it is not a miracle that I am still third with this car? Yes, I think it is.”
He prefers not to talk, but when it comes to racing, Verstappen wants to make his mark this weekend. The Grand Prix weekend in Austria starts on Friday at 13:30 with the first free practice. The race is on Sunday at 15:00.