Verstappen Stays Silent on Saudi GP Penalty to Avoid Social Media Backlash
Max Verstappen has opted to remain silent about incidents at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to avoid potential backlash and misinterpretation of his comments. This decision follows a five-second penalty he received for gaining an advantage at Turn 1.
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The defending champion cites social media sensitivity and the risk of his words being twisted as key reasons for his restraint. "It's honestly better not to say too much. You can't share your opinion because it's not appreciated apparently, or people can't handle the full truth," Verstappen explained.
His cautious approach also stems from the FIA's International Sporting Code, which can penalize drivers for misconduct. This follows a previous incident where Verstappen was sanctioned for swearing during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Jeddah incident resulted in a reduced five-second penalty instead of the standard ten seconds, as stewards considered the first-corner timing as a mitigating factor. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner defended his driver, describing the penalty as "very harsh."
Verstappen's decision reflects a broader trend of drivers becoming more cautious with public statements due to increasing scrutiny and potential consequences in modern Formula 1.