Verstappen chooses silence over penalty: 'People can't handle the truth'

22:17, 20 Apr

Updated: 23:14, 20 Apr

byNorberto Mujica

It was an unusually critical Max Verstappen. After coming home in P2, the Dutchman revealed he was feeling the speech restraints of 'social media', but also hinted at the new FIA driver behaviour guidelines.

Verstappen unhappy with the FIA's speech guidelines

During the on the grid interviews, his minced words were telling. But the trend continued into the post-race FIA press conference. Is it about the governing body's updated guidelines that have often been referred to as a gag on drivers and other personnel?

"Well, I mean, I know that I cannot, not swear in here, but at the same time, you can also not be critical or any kind of form that might harm or danger, or let me get the sheet out," said Verstappen vocally critical of the FIA measures.

"There's a lot of lines, you know, so it's better not to talk about it, because you can put yourself in trouble and I don't think anyone wants that."

Verstappen 'fears penalty' and remains short on words

Regarding the controversial penalty imposed on the Dutchman at the start of the race, Verstappen said: "Yeah, start happened, turn one happened, and suddenly it was left 50. It just all went super fast. So, yeah."

Then he stressed he could not say anything further, since he feared a penalty might come his way. "The problem is that I cannot share my opinion about it because I might get penalized also, you know, so it's better not to speak about it."

About his wheel to wheel fight with rival, Oscar Piastri, the Dutchman was also economical with words. "It happened very fast."

Verstappen's economy of words due to 'some people not handling the truth'

Verstappen was later pressed again about his minced words, and the Dutchman elaborated: "Like I said before I think it's just the world we live in you can't share fully your opinion because it's not appreciated apparently. Or people can't handle the full truth."

"For me, I mean, honestly, it's better if I don't need to say too much. It also saves my time because we already have to do so much. So yeah, it's honestly just how everything is becoming."

"Everyone is super sensitive about everything. Yeah, and then of course, what we have currently, like we cannot be critical anyway, so that's fine. Less talking, even better for me."

When asked if his shortness of words was in response to the FIA's recent measures, the Dutchman having cited privously that the governing body could not be criticised, then turned his attention elsewhere.

"No, it is just has to do with social media in general and how the world is. I prefer not to talk a lot because sometimes your words can be twisted or people interpret it in a different way. So it's honestly better not to say too much. So that's what I'm trying to do."