Verstappen keeping quiet on Saudi Arabian GP incident to avoid backlash

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 Arabian Grand Prix.

The stewards gave Verstappen a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage at the exit of Turn 1. The defending champion declined to offer his take on the incident and the penalty itself in multiple post-race interviews, pointing to the way people might respond if they don’t agree with his point of view.

“It has to do with social media in general, and how the world is,” Verstappen said. “I prefer not to talk a lot because sometimes your words can be twisted or people interpret it in a different way. It’s honestly better not to say too much. So that’s what I’m trying to do.

“It’s just the world we live in. You can’t share your opinion because it’s not appreciated apparently, or people can’t handle the full truth. Honestly, it’s better if I don’t say too much. It also saves my time because we already have to do so much.

“It’s honestly just how everything is becoming. Everyone is super sensitive about everything. And what we have currently, we cannot be critical anyway. So less talking, even better for me.”

Expanding on not being able to be critical himself, Verstappen referenced the FIA’s International Sporting Code, and how a driver can be penalized for misconduct.

“I know I cannot swear in here, but at the same time, you also can’t be critical in any form that might ‘harm’ or ‘danger’… Let me get the sheet out. There’s a lot of lines, you know? So that’s why it’s better not to talk about it – you can put yourself in trouble, and I don’t think anyone wants that.”

Verstappen has previously been ordered to accomplish some work of public interest for swearing in an FIA press conference at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix, and limited his answers in such situations for a number of races after that punishment.

The penalty the Dutchman received in Jeddah was reduced from the standard 10 seconds to five by the stewards as they felt the fact it occurred at the first corner of the opening lap was a mitigating circumstance, but Red Bull team principal Christian Horner described it as “very harsh” as he defended his driver post-race.