Verstappen Describes Relationship With FIA President Amid Continued Protest

Monday, 23 September 2024 at 20:00

Max Verstappen talked about his relationship with FIA president Ben Sulayem as he confirmed he was being denied the opportunity to be authentic.

Red Bull Racing F1 driver Max Verstappen, who finished second during the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, continued protesting against FIA during the official press conferences.

After being penalized for using an F-word during a press conference on Thursday ahead of the race weekend in Singapore, the Dutchman decided to fight back.

How? The Dutchman wouldn't give any meaningful answer during Saturday's post-qualifying FIA press conference. He only gave very brief, few-word-long answers and then held his own mini-press conference afterward, where he thoroughly answered all questions from the media.

Following what happened on Saturday, the 2016 F1 Champion Nico Rosberg warned the triple World Champion that he was pushing the limits a bit as he is contractually obliged to answer all of the questions

After finishing on the podium on Sunday, Verstappen attended the FIA press conference again and did the same. Although his answers were a bit longer this time, he still wouldn't elaborate on anything.

Max Verstappen at the post-qualifying press conference during the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix weekend, with a purple background.

Max Verstappen at the post-qualifying press conference in Singapore

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Max Verstappen explained why he continues in his protest as he spoke to the media outside the press conference room after the official FIA press conference concluded and discussed his relationship with the FIA president:

"For me personally, there is absolutely no desire to give long answers when you get treated like that. I never really felt like I had a bad relationship with him [Ben Sulayem]."

"Even this year, I did voluntary work with junior stewards, giving a half-an-hour interview they set up. So I tried to help out, to give little favours or whatever. I'm not a difficult person who will say no."

"[I am more like] 'Okay, sure, if that's what you guys like, I like to help out,' and then you get treated like that. That's just not how it works."

"So, for me, it was quite straightforward. Because I know I have to answer [in an FIA press conference], but it doesn't say how long you have to answer for."

When the Red Bull Racing F1 driver was asked whether he had any idea as to why he was treated the way he was (being ordered to accomplish some work of public interest) for using one swear word, he replied:

"It's just the wording, the ruling, that the sport is heading into for me personally, you know, with these kind of things. I know, of course, you can't insult people. That is quite straightforward, and 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."

Ultimately, the Dutchman confirmed he believes that he's being denied the opportunity to behave in his own authentic way, as he added:

"For sure. 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 it's not how you should be going about it in the sport."