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Max Verstappen says he is refusing to give his opinion on controversial incidents in races because of the way others react to his comments, after picking up a penalty at the start of the Saudi Arab…
Max Verstappen has decided to withhold his opinions on controversial incidents during races due to potential backlash from others, following a penalty at the start of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The penalty he received was a five-second time penalty for track limits violation at Turn 1. Verstappen refrained from discussing the incident and penalty in interviews, expressing concerns about how his comments may be misconstrued or criticized. He pointed out the challenges of sharing opinions on social media and the current hypersensitivity in society, which led him to adopt a more reserved approach. Verstappen highlighted the limitations on being critical in the FIA’s International Sporting Code, emphasizing the risks of facing penalties for expressing dissent or causing controversy. His decision to limit public comments stems from previous incidents, like being ordered to perform public interest tasks for swearing in a press conference. Despite the penalty reduction, Red Bull’s Christian Horner criticized the stewards’ decision, labeling it as “very harsh” and defending Verstappen’s actions.
