Verstappen signals potential early F1 retirement amid growing FIA tensions

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Singapore -- Max Verstappen, a three-time world champion, has suggested he might retire from Formula 1 sooner than expected due to the constraints placed on him by the sport's governing body, the FIA.

Verstappen faced sanctions during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend for using profanity in the FIA's pre-event news conference on Thursday. His use of the word "f---ed" to describe his car's performance was deemed a breach of the FIA's International Sporting Code, resulting in him being ordered to "accomplish some work of public interest."

In response to the decision, Verstappen gave only short answers in the official FIA news conferences after Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race. He opened up to the media during his private media huddles in the F1 paddock, where he expressed his frustrations and hinted at a potential early exit from the sport.

"For sure, these kind of things definitely decide my future as well," Verstappen stated. "You know when you can't be yourself, or you have to deal with these kind of silly things. I think now I'm at the stage of my career that you don't want to be dealing with this all the time. It's really tiring."

He elaborated on his feelings, saying, "Of course, it's great to have success and win races, but you know, once you have accomplished all that winning championships and races, and then you want to just have a good time as well. Of course, everyone is pushing to the limit. Everyone in this paddock, even at the back of the grid. But if you have to deal with all these kind of silly things, for me, that is not a way of continuing in the sport, that's for sure."

When pressed on whether he had communicated his frustrations to the FIA, Verstappen added: "At the end of the day, I don't know how serious they would take that kind of stuff. For me at one point, when it's enough, it's enough, and we'll see. Like I said, racing will go on, F1 will go on also without me. It's also not a problem for me. It's how it is."

Verstappen described the current situation with the FIA as "super silly" and clarified that his use of profanity was not directed at any individual. "For me personally, with these kind of things, I know, of course, you can't insult people. That is quite straightforward. I think no one really wants to do that. It's all a bit too soft really and honestly, it's silly. It's super silly what we're dealing with."

The 26-year-old emphasized that the FIA's actions are limiting drivers' ability to express themselves fully. "If you can't really be yourself to the fullest, then it's better not to speak," he remarked. "That's what no one wants, because then you become a robot and it is not how you should be going about it in the sport. It is going the wrong way to create that [authenticity]. I think you should be able to show emotions in a way. That's what racing is about, or any sport."

Verstappen also shared that he had informed other drivers in the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) about the stewards' ruling and received their unanimous support. "I wrote in the GPDA [chat] the ruling, and everyone was almost laughing, you know, like, 'What the hell is that?' Basically. So, yes, it is very, very silly."

The reigning champion's candid comments have sparked conversations within the F1 community regarding the balance between maintaining professionalism and allowing drivers to express their true selves.

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