Verstappen refuses to "look like an idiot" with public service
Max Verstappen says he will not be made to "look like an idiot" when he completes his two days of 'public service' for the FIA.
The Red Bull driver was given the punishment for his post-race altercation with Esteban Ocon at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he confronted and shoved the Force India driver for their collision that cost him victory at Interlagos.
When jokingly asked by UK F1 broadcaster Sky Sports on Sunday night if he'd accept an offer to look after 1996 world champion Damon Hill's rubbish bins, Verstappen declined, before offering his serious opinion on the matter and stressing that he wants to do something "suitable".
"I'm definitely not going to look silly," he added.
"I think anyway I'm already very hardly treated by that, so we'll find something suitable, because I'm not going to look like an idiot."
Earlier in the weekend Verstappen said he didn't yet know what the FIA had planned for him.
"We'll discuss, between the team and the FIA, what we're going to do," he said.
"If I agree [with the punishment], it doesn't really matter, does it? What can you do about it? I find it a bit harsh but yeah… we'll find a solution."
Verstappen made a more light-hearted reference to the punishment in the post-race press conference, when he confirmed to Lewis Hamilton that he'd finished fourth in the championship and therefore did not have to attend the FIA Awards Gala.
"We calculated that, I'm sorry," Verstappen joked. "Unless I can do it as a community service day, and then I will go!
"I'll do some PR stuff before – how great the whole venue is. I'll do a special speech in the evening!"
Share Or Save This Story
F1 2019 game to allow official driver transfers
Albon keeps Toro Rosso on top in morning of Day 4
Raikkonen fastest for Alfa on third morning of F1 test
Max Verstappen’s unusual run plan and F1 teams’ biggest challenge in Malaysia explained
"Make all mistakes now" – Why Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar want Red Bull to experiment for 2027
How Kimi Antonelli is proving unbeatable, even when he's beaten
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Saturday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Turner Motorsport chases unprecedented North American sports car title trifecta
WRC Sardinia: Thierry Neuville snatches lead from Adrien Fourmaux as Hyundai remains on top
Winward faces Petit Le Mans challenge in bid for IMSA GTD three-peat
What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Bahrain GP in Malaysia
The hidden F1 performance differentiator nobody is talking about in 2026
As Mercedes looks to deal F1 2026 knockout blow, will its driver fight reignite?
Top 10 F1 results changed by backmarkers – the passes
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments