Max Verstappen will continue his vow of silence during FIA Formula 1 media sessions at the United States Grand Prix – but he has implied a way out of the situation.
The Dutchman has yet to serve the community service awarded to him by the FIA after he swore in a Singapore Press Conference, which attracted ridicule from rivals, fans and pundits.
With F1 returning from its month-long absence in Austin this weekend, fears Verstappen would continue to hold private press conferences have become justified, with backing from the other drivers.
Verstappen has since confirmed he will continue to speak less and hold his own private roundtables, in a further blow to the governing body’s credibility.
He also revealed how his standoff with the FIA could end, calling on President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to contact him for a conversation, which has yet to happen.
“I have not heard anything [from the FIA], so for me it doesn’t really change anything,” Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week.
“With the situation. I mean, I also have to talk less, so it is fine for me,” said Verstappen.
“At the end of the day, everyone has their own opinion, but it is quite clear that, like I said already it was silly stuff.
“I am always open for a chat [with Ben Sulayem], but from my side at the moment it is not that I am the one who has to reach out with this stuff.
“I just live my life and continue, nothing changes.”
A major incident over a minor misdemeanour?
The Dutchman then attacked the sport’s governing body, confirming when asked that he believed it had created a furore over a minor incident.
“Yeah, but that is in general the world in which we live in, right?” he responded. “A lot of stuff is like that.
“This particular scenario, I think it is very unnecessary.
“Of course I know you can’t swear but that is more related to insults and then you see comments from people saying they don’t want kids seeing that.
“Well, when I was five years old, I never watched a press conference in my life anyway. At school, you say way worse things than that, that’s just how life is.
“If you want to set an example, yeah, sure, but I don’t think you should make a big deal of it. I just want to live my life, and if I don’t agree with something I will say it. That’s it.”
His ongoing gripes with the FIA are not the only controversy surrounding Red Bull, as the team is engulfed in the revelation it can alter the ride height of its RB20 in parc ferme.
READ MORE: George Russell: F1 drivers to pen public letter amid FIA swearing row
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