Verstappen says 'silly' swearing row could hasten exit

SINGAPORE — World champion Max Verstappen has described his punishment for swearing as "silly" and threatened the row could hasten his exit from Formula One.

The Dutchman finished second to Lando Norris at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, but the saga over him being slapped with a community service order continued to dominate fallout in the paddock.

"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," the 26-year-old said.

The Red Bull driver was sanctioned by the FIA after using the F-word in Thursday's drivers' media 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 news conference on Saturday.

After Sunday's race, he again limited his responses, before conducting a lengthy news 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.

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.

"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."

Amazing McLaren

Norris hailed his "mega "McLaren after his dominant victory in Singapore closed the Formula One championship gap on Verstappen, who came a distant second.

It was the McLaren driver's third career GP win, and his first from pole position, as he finished almost 30 seconds clear of his rival's Red Bull.

Norris admitted to a couple of scary brushes with the walls on the notoriously tight Marina Bay Street Circuit, as his tires faded in the closing laps.

"It was an amazing race," said Norris.

"A few too many close calls, I had a couple of close moments. You have a little bit less grip, a little bit less downforce," added the Englishman.

"Tires are going away a little bit. It just caught me out.

"So, it wasn't like a lack of concentration or anything. It was just a bit of a surprise to me."

Fortunately, Norris avoided any damage and reduced the deficit with Verstappen to 52 points with six races and three sprints to go.

"I think the car was all good. The car has been mega all weekend. So, a big thanks to the team," he added.

Teammate Oscar Piastri was third, helping extend McLaren's lead over Red Bull in the constructors' championship to 41 points.

AFP