Since 2020, Red Bull has won 58 races, of which Max Verstappen alone has clinched 53 victories. The Dutchman has been an unstoppable force in the past few years. As a result, he has won three world titles on the Trott. Therefore, he is a fan favorite for his aggressive racing and unfiltered statements. His passion for racing and straightforward personality have made him one of the biggest names in motorsport. However, the recent clean speech row might be the reason for his F1 exit.
In the Thursday conference of Singapore GP, the RBR triple champion was talking about the RB20 car and its woes. Mad being Max, he dropped an F-bomb while being frustrated with the car’s shortcomings. Although the slur was not directed towards anyone, it instigated strict action against the Dutchman. The reason is FIA’s conduct to minimize the use of foul language. The FIA president, Ben Sulayem, has directed the drivers and the teams to limit the use of expletives. Therefore, Verstappen was rewarded with a community service penalty. However, Red Bull Advisor Helmut Marko has supported Verstappen in this ill-mouth conundrum, warning FIA about his retirement.
Helmut Marko Backs Verstappen’s Protest After The Clean Speech Rule
He was infuriated when the regulatory body punished Verstappen with the community service-styled penalty. The Dutchman found it illogical, as using an F-word, too, in a fun way, could get him in trouble. Therefore, the 26-year-old decided to stay tight-lipped in the subsequent few media interactions, saying only a word or two. However, he held an off-camera separate conversation with the media, sharing everything about the Singapore GP. The RBR triple champion was unhappy with the reprimand, claiming it to be ridiculous. Moreover, he also claimed that if the FIA continued to point out such small things, he might consider retiring.
This statement sparked a row of speculations, putting the administrative body under tremendous pressure. The majority of the F1-related personnel supported Verstappen. Helmut Marko was no different as he asked the FIA to take the three-time world champion seriously. He further stated that if things are “spoiled” for him, he might draw curtains on his F1 career. Marko emphasized the characteristics of the Dutchman as he won’t think twice before leaving the paddock, given the lack of enthusiasm. However, Marko also hoped that this situation wouldn’t force him to retire and he would continue to write his legacy.
Max Verstappen Bashes FIA Over “Clean Speech” Rule
After the FIA president proposed a clean speech rule banning all sorts of slurs and abuses, Verstappen shared his thoughts. According to the Dutchman, F1 has a wide base of spectators, not limited to young kids. Thus, it is ridiculous to ask drivers and teams to behave in a certain manner.
He compared F1 with other sports, where the players aren’t mic’d up all the time. Thus, Verstappen suggested not broadcasting such words is a better option than a complete ban. It is because in an intense moment of a race it is almost impossible to control emotions. Therefore, such rules would disrupt the passion and emotional side of the sport.