Max Verstappen Expresses Concern Over 'Silly' Swearing Row and Contemplates F1 Exit

World champion Max Verstappen criticized the punishment he received for swearing as "ridiculous" and warned that the incident could impact his future in Formula One. Despite finishing second to Lando Norris at the Singapore Grand Prix, Verstappen's community service order sparked controversy in the paddock. "Dealing with these trivial issues and not being able to express myself freely definitely affects my future in the sport," the 26-year-old stated. Verstappen hinted that the situation could lead to his early exit from Formula One.

The Red Bull driver was sanctioned by the FIA after using the F-word in Thursday's drivers' press conference which was being broadcast live.

He subsequently staged a one-man protest by giving only short answers or offering "no comment" to reporters in the official FIA post-qualifying press conference on Saturday.

After Sunday's race, he again limited his responses before conducting a lengthy press conference with some members of the written press inside the Red Bull hospitality unit.

"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," he told the BBC.

"For me, that is not a way of continuing in the sport, that's for sure."

Verstappen is chasing a fourth world title this season but he has said in the past that a long career in Formula One is not on his agenda.

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He is also keen to explore other forms of motor racing once his current contract with Red Bull ends in 2028.

"F1 will go on without me. It's not a problem and also not a problem for me. It's how it is," he added.

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"If you can't really be yourself to the fullest, then it's better not to speak. But that's what no one wants because then you become a robot and that's not how you should be going about it in the sport."

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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