Verstappens gives a warning message: 'These things decide my future'

Verstappen explains protest against FIA

Verstappen does not understand the punishment the FIA imposed on him for using the word 'f***ed' during the press conference, especially since the Dutchman felt he had a good relationship with the governing body.

"There is absolutely no desire to then give long answers there when you get treated like that. I never really felt like I had a bad relationship with them. Even this year, I did voluntary work with junior stewards. I gave them a half an hour interview like all set up so I tried to also help out," Verstappen said.

"They have little favours or whatever, and I'm not a difficult person to say ‘no’. ‘Okay sure if that's what you guys like, I like to help out’, and then you get treated like that? Well, that's just not how it works. So for me it was quite straightforward. That's because I know that I have to answer but it doesn't say how long you have to answer for."

Asked why he thinks the FIA decided to penalise him, Verstappen replied: "I think it's just the wording, the ruling that the sport is heading into for me personally with these kinds of things. I know of course you can't insult people, that's quite straightforward. I think no one really wants to do that. But it's all a bit too soft really. And honestly, it's silly. It's super silly what we're dealing with."

Verstappen: 'This affects my authenticity'

The three-time world champion says he feels the FIA's decision affects his authenticity. "Yeah, for sure. I mean if you can't really be yourself to the fullest, then it's better not to speak. At the end of the day, 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."

"I mean these kinds of things definitely decide my future as well. You can't be yourself or you have to deal with these kinds 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. Of course it's great to have success and win races but once you have accomplished all that, winning championships and races, then you want to just have a good time as well," Verstappen clarified.

"Everyone is pushing to the limit, everyone in this battle, even at the back of the grid. But if you have to deal with all these kinds of silly things, for me that is another way of continuing in the sport, that's for sure," he said warningly.