Formula 1 trouble continues to escalate
Verstappen threatens to resign – and means it seriously
September 28, 2024, 2:02 p.m
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is so angry about a penalty that he is threatening to withdraw from the premier class of motorsport. His close confidant and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko speaks to the Dutchman and says: Verstappen is serious.
Since he described his car as “fucked” at the press conference before the Formula 1 race in Singapore, the FIA was forced to intervene and sentence Max Verstappen to a day of “motorsport social work” because of his rude choice of words. A decision that upset the Dutchman. The F1 superstar didn’t even rule out retirement. According to Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko, more than an empty threat.
“You have to take Max seriously,” emphasized Helmut Marko in an exclusive interview on the “Formel1.de” YouTube channel. The 81-year-old, who is considered a close confidant of Max Verstappen, does not make this assessment lightly. Marko said he spoke to the 26-year-old on the phone “in detail” about the issue on Tuesday.
Verstappen made it clear before Formula 1’s October break that he was not a fan of his choice of words being taken lightly by the world motorsport association: “It’s enough now. Enough is enough,” said the three-time world champion, commenting on his punishment.
Double standards in Formula 1
“Max has achieved a lot. But it’s important for him that he also enjoys and enjoys the whole sport. If that’s increasingly spoiled for him, then he’s out of character… If he says, ‘Okay, That’s it, then he means it seriously,” Marko once again took a clear stance, but qualified: “But I don’t hope that the current situation would really lead to an early resignation.”
Above all, Marko denounces double standards in F1. On the one hand, ex-Haas team boss Günther Steiner has achieved cult status through excessive use of the word “fuck”, but on the other hand, Verstappen is punished for a careless word.
“There are double standards,” Marko says angrily. On top of that, Verstappen “didn’t mean a person, but he meant the car, i.e. an object, and in a flippant way.”