Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has accused the FIA of employing “double standards” amid its conflict with Max Verstappen over swearing in a Formula 1 press conference.
With the FIA clamping down on the use of language during F1 driver media sessions, Verstappen was the first to receive a harsh punishment.
After using the f-word during the Thursday Singapore Grand Prix press conference, Verstappen was ordered to complete a day of community service.
The Dutchman responded to the exaggerated consequences by remaining tight-lipped in subsequent press conferences and holding his own discussions with the media outside of the FIA’s scrutinous gaze.
“There are double standards,” Marko argued to Formel1.de in reference to the language used in Netflix’s popular ‘Drive to Survive’ docuseries.
“What’s more, he [Verstappen] wasn’t talking about a person, he was talking about the car, in other words an object, and in a flippant way.
“Okay, maybe in an afternoon press conference. If everything is handled so strictly, it will be handled differently in future. But it’s clearly exaggerated.”
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Such was Verstappen’s irritation with the FIA, the Dutchman told the media he’d consider his future in F1 should matter such as this persist.
“These kinds of things definitely decide my future as well,” Verstappen said.
“I’m at the stage of my career that you don’t want to be dealing with this all the time.”
Marko warned that such a threat coming from Verstappen shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“Max has to be taken seriously,” Marko added.
“We spoke at length on the phone. Max has achieved a great deal, but it’s important for him to have fun and enjoy the whole sport.
“If that is increasingly spoilt for him, then his character is… If he says, ‘OK, that’s it’, then he means it.
“But I don’t hope that the current situation will really cause him to retire any time soon.”
Verstappen is currently under contract at Red Bull through the 2028 season.
Having made his F1 debut at the tender age of 17 in 2015 with Toro Rosso, Verstappen reached the 200 Grand Prix milestone at his home race at Zandvoort in August.
During the Dutch GP Thursday press conference, Verstappen made it clear that he would not be going for another 200 races in F1.
The Dutchman has often expressed his desire to try his hand at other racing series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship’s marquee event at Le Mans.
Moreover, Verstappen has a prosperous sim-racing passion that he spends the majority of his spare time on. Should he quit F1, Verstappen wouldn’t be wanting for things to do.
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