Seeing Max Verstappen battle a McLaren driver into Turn 1 of a Formula 1 Grand Prix has become something of the norm these past two seasons.
While often Verstappen is fighting Lando Norris, on Sunday at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix he was battling with Oscar Piastri after the lights went out at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. With Verstappen starting on pole position, and Piastri alongside him on the front row, the two battled into the first corner after the McLaren driver got a tremendous start off the line. Verstappen managed to hold onto the position, going off track to do so, and was ultimately given a five-second penalty for leaving the track to gain an advantage.
That opened the door for Piastri’s third win of the season, as he took the checkered flag ahead of Verstappen and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Speaking at the FIA Press Conference after the Grand Prix, Verstappen praised the McLaren driver’s calm demeanor, as well as his approach to racing.
“I think I’ve said it before. People forget a little bit – last year was his second year. Now he’s in his third year, and he’s very solid. He’s very calm in his approach, and I like that,” said Verstappen. “It shows on track. He delivers when he has to, barely makes mistakes – and that’s what you need when you want to fight for a championship. And I think with Mark [Webber, Piastri’s manager and a former Red Bull driver] by his side, he’s helping him a lot. It’s great. People learn from their own careers – that’s what I had with my dad, and Mark is advising Oscar.
“At the end of the day, Oscar is using his talent, and that’s great to see.”
That was one of the longer answers Verstappen gave following the race on Sunday, as the Red Bull driver kept his responses short and to the point when asked about the penalty, or other aspects of the race. Verstappen indicated that he wanted to keep his responses short and not say “too much” so his words would not be twisted.
“It has to do with social media in general, and how the world is,” said Verstappen. “I prefer not to talk a lot because sometimes your words can be twisted or people interpret it in a different way. It’s honestly better not to say too much. So that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Speaking later in the FIA Press Conference Verstappen noted that the “less talking” from him, the better.
“Like I said before, it’s just the world we live in. You can’t share your opinion because it’s not appreciated apparently, or people can’t handle the full truth,” added Verstappen. “Honestly, it’s better if I don’t say too much. It also saves my time because we already have to do so much. It’s honestly just how everything is becoming. Everyone is super sensitive about everything. And what we have currently, we cannot be critical anyway. So less talking – even better for me.”
One can certainly understand Verstappen’s frustration. F1 drivers are faced with substantial media demands, including media requirements such as a post-race press conference that happens moments after a Grand Prix concludes. And specifically regarding the Red Bull driver, it was his description of the RB20 last season in a press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix that touched off the controversy regarding penalties being handed out by the FIA for drivers swearing during media duties.
Therefore, we might not hear much from Verstappen in the weeks ahead, other than what he says through his driving. So what he did say about Piastri, who now leads the Drivers’ Championship standings, speaks volumes.
