Max Verstappen has implied it is all but impossible to express an opinion for risk of censure by Formula One’s governing body the FIA, when he refused to air his clear displeasure at the penalty he was given during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Verstappen declined to discuss the race after the top three drivers climbed from their cars in parc ferme. He was fined by the FIA for swearing in a press conference at the Singapore GP last year and this season has been far more guarded and short in answering questions. Speaking to the media in Jeddah he suggested he felt constrained by the rulebook.
“The problem is I cannot share my opinion about it because I might get penalised so it’s better not to talk about,” he said. “Anything I say or try to say about it might get me in trouble.”
The inference that was impossible to ignore is that any negative remarks about the FIA or its stewards’ decisions may prompt punishment.
“I know I cannot swear in here but at the same time you also cannot be critical in any form that might harm or danger,” he said. “Then you get the sheet out, there is a lot of lines. That’s why it is better not to talk about it because you can put yourself in trouble and I don’t think anyone wants that.”
Verstappen added that another concern “has to do with social media and the way the world is”.
“I’d prefer not to talk – sometimes your words can be twisted or interpreted in a different way,” he said. “You can’t share your opinions because it’s not appreciated as it used to be. People can’t handle the truth.”
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the race from second on the grid, beating Verstappen by 2.8sec but the decisive moment as far as Red Bull and the world champion were concerned had come within seconds of the lights going out.
Verstappen had started from pole on the short run to the first corner but Piastri made a very quick start and had eased just in front as they went through turn one. Piastri held his line and Verstappen went wide, cutting the corner at turn to maintain his lead.
The world champion believed he had not been given enough room, while Piastri felt that Verstappen had not even tried to make the corner. Red Bull opted not to give the place back and the stewards investigated awarded Verstappen a five-second penalty.
When he took it during his pit stop, Piastri went into the lead from which point, in clean air he could not be caught
His Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, did observe that he felt the penalty had been too much. “We have this notion of let them race,” he said. “I don’t know where Max was supposed to go at that first corner. We have lost the race by 2.8 seconds so yeah it’s tough.”
The McLaren chief executive, Zak Brown, felt it had been the correct decision. “I definitely thought a penalty was deserved,” he said.
“Oscar was clearly up the inside. Got a better start, you need to use the racetrack, whether it’s a five-second penalty or give the position back you could go either way, but I think it was definitely appropriate. It was Oscar’s corner and at some point you have just got to concede.”
