Verstappen says "F1 will go on without me" as he hints at early exit again
F1 News
Max Verstappen says that "F1 will go on without me" as he hinted at an early exit from Formula 1 once again at the Singapore Grand Prix. The Dutchman was engaged in a battle with the FIA after he was given a community service penalty for swearing in Thursday's press conference, which resulted in protests from the three-time world champion for the rest of the weekend.
Before the Grand Prix weekend at the Marin Bay Street Circuit, the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said that F1 needs to reduce the amount of swearing in the sport. However, just hours later, Verstappen swore in the first press conference in the weekend, leading to a community service penalty. However, drivers on the grid were not impressed with the penalty, and neither was Verstappen.
That penalty led to the Dutchman answering questions extremely bluntly in Saturday's press conference after qualifying and then doing very similar in Sunday's press conference after the Grand Prix, saying he would talk to the media outside the FIA press conference afterwards.
Verstappen will realise "when it is enough"
Speaking outside of the press conference, Verstappen hinted that a move away from F1 would be speeded up if the FIA continue to go down this route with penalties: "I mean, I don't know how serious they will take that kind of stuff. But for me, of course, at one point, when it's enough, it's enough. And we'll see. I mean, like I said, the racing will go on. F1 will go on, also without me. It's not a problem. It's also not a problem for me. So it's how it is."
Verstappen has mentioned the idea of leaving the sport before many expected previously, but after this weekend which has clearly annoyed the Dutchman, he said, "I will always be myself. I will not, because of that, change how I am in my life anyway, but also how I'm operating here."