Max Verstappen is not one to back down from a fight and the Dutchman defied the FIA ​​with a pointed and very public protest by virtually refusing to answer questions in the press conference after qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix.

The world champion’s displeasure with the Formula 1 association and its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over a penalty imposed on Friday for swearing was unmistakable at the Marina Bay Circuit. He was supported by pole sitter Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, who finished third in qualifying.

Before the race weekend, Ben Sulayem had demanded that the drivers use fewer swear words. This demand was met with widespread rejection when Verstappen described his car as “shitty”. The FIA ​​​​punished the 26-year-old with the F1 equivalent of a day of community service.

Verstappen wasted no time in answering. At the FIA ​​press conference for the top three drivers, which they must attend, he only answered the initial question, saying he was happy with qualifying and thanking his Red Bull team before resorting to almost monosyllabic answers.

When asked to elaborate, he made the reason for his dissatisfaction clear. “No,” he said. “I could get a fine, or an extra day.” That he was specifically addressing the FIA ​​became clear when he apologized to Tom Clarkson, the moderator of the press conference. “This is not directed at you,” he said.

He then told the media representatives present that he would be happy to answer these questions outside the FIA ​​room. “I would prefer if you asked these questions outside the room,” he said, and did so.

Norris and Hamilton had criticised Ben Sulayem’s comments and expressed understanding for Verstappen. Hamilton said he would refuse the community service. “It’s a bit of a joke,” he said. “This is the pinnacle of sport, mistakes are made. I would definitely not do it and I hope Max doesn’t either.”

Norris initially joked that Verstappen deserved it, but sided with him. “It’s pretty unfair, I don’t agree with any of it,” he said.

As is usual at FIA conferences, the awkwardness alone probably went down badly with the governing body. Verstappen, however, seemed to enjoy it. In the end, he twisted the knife. “I answer, but not much, I have a problem with my voice,” he said.

After making his point clear, he spoke to the media and when asked if his protest was because he felt the FIA’s leadership was inadequate, he answered bluntly. “It’s just ridiculous to get a penalty for that,” he said. “If you insult someone, it’s pretty clear. I didn’t mean it at a person, it was a little slip of the tongue. That’s not the right way to progress in our sport.”

The FIA ​​has not yet commented on Verstappen’s conduct or his comments. That Verstappen wanted to address this point was more evident in the fact that he had an unexpectedly good qualifying session from a sporting perspective. Norris earned pole with a good lap, two tenths ahead of the world champion, but for Verstappen, second place was a great result on a track where Red Bull would struggle and potentially lose a pile of points to the McLaren driver.

Instead, Verstappen got the most out of his car and, by finishing second, has a small chance of winning the only race on the calendar he still needs to win. More importantly, he may be able to stem Norris’s loss of his 59-point lead in the championship. The title rivals will then go side by side in what should be a fascinating battle under the Marina Bay floodlights, with no small potential for more bad language. George Russell was fourth for Mercedes and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri fifth.

Nico Hülkenberg finished sixth for Haas, Fernando Alonso seventh for Aston Martin, Yuki Tsunoda eighth for RB, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished ninth after his lap time was deleted and his teammate Carlos Sainz finished tenth after an accident in Q3.

Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto finished 11th and 12th for Williams, Sergio Pérez 13th for Red Bull, Kevin Magnussen 14th for Haas and Esteban Ocon 15th for Alpine.

Daniel Ricciardo finished 16th for RB, Lance Stroll 17th for Aston Martin, Pierre Gasly 18th for Alpine and Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou 19th and 20th for Sauber.