Last Updated on April 6 2025, 8:13 am
The Dutchman breaks his silence with a strong quip with the Red Bull star returning to press spotlight after FIA boycott, Verstappen’s standoff with FIA eases six months after Singapore controversy: Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula One World Champion, has never been one to mince words. But for the past six months, the Red Bull ace has been careful around the microphones after being sanctioned by the FIA for using profanity on an official F1 broadcast. That moment in Singapore in 2024 had seen Verstappen all but disappear from FIA press conferences, seemingly choosing silence over the risk of further punishment.
At Suzuka, however, the Dutchman returned to the centre of the F1 media room with the same flair he displays on the track. After a blistering pole position for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen not only re-engaged with journalists, but also made sure his comeback to the press room didn’t go unnoticed – dropping a tongue-in-cheek line that had the assembled media laughing and headlines flying.
A cheeky comeback at Suzuka
The scene was Saturday afternoon, after a dominant qualifying session. Verstappen had just taken pole in commanding fashion and was facing questions from the international press. Among them was ESPN’s Laurence Edmondson, who asked a seemingly innocuous question about the feeling of driving a car that behaves exactly as the driver wants it to around the high-speed curves of Suzuka. What was the feeling like in the cockpit?
Verstappen paused for a moment to consider the question. Then, with a mischievous grin, he gave a characteristically blunt answer: “Well, if you want to drive the car yourself sometime, I can try to organize it. I think you’d sh!t your pants!”
The room erupted in laughter. Verstappen, aware of the scrutiny his words could attract, followed up with a wry remark, “Are you even allowed to say that in a press conference?”
The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable – a jab at the very institution that had reprimanded him months ago for a less colourful turn of phrase.
No investigation has been launched by the FIA following Verstappen’s latest outburst, a possible sign that the governing body is treating it as a harmless joke rather than the occasion for another round of motorsport social work.
From sanctions to Suzuka: Verstappen’s reemergence
The punishment in question – a day of “motorsport social work” – was handed down after Verstappen used the word “f&ck” during a sanctioned F1 interview show in Singapore last year.
As punishment, he spent time at the FIA Gala in Rwanda in December, interacting with young African motorsport athletes. That quiet act of redemption seemed to mark a turning point in Verstappen’s relationship with the FIA, if not the media itself.
Now in Japan, the Dutchman is speaking freely again and, more importantly, driving at the level that made him a three-time world champion. After a rocky start to the 2025 season that saw McLaren steal the early headlines, Verstappen’s victory in Suzuka was a timely reminder that the king isn’t ready to abdicate just yet.
A champion’s reaction on track
Verstappen’s race on Sunday was a masterclass in control, determination and strategy. Starting from pole, he maintained his lead at every stage of the Japanese Grand Prix to take a wire-to-wire victory – his first of the 2025 season and the 64th of his career.
McLaren’s dynamic duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri completed the podium, but it was Verstappen who stole the spotlight with a performance that reaffirmed his status at the top of the sport. It also marked the first time this season that a McLaren driver did not take the top step of the podium.
The weekend had started with speculation about Red Bull’s pace compared to McLaren’s, and whether Verstappen could hold off the quicker papaya cars over the long stints. McLaren’s Norris went into Suzuka as championship leader and looked set to extend his advantage. But Verstappen had other ideas.
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Pitlane drama and precision tyre management
As is often the case at Suzuka, strategy played a key role. Rain was forecast but failed to materialise, leaving the teams to rely on tyre performance and perfect execution in the pits. The most intense moment came during the first round of pit stops when Verstappen and Norris pitted at the same time. Coming out of the pits, the pair almost collided, with Norris bouncing across the grass to stay alongside.
“He pushed me out and saw me clearly. I was already next to him,” Norris later claimed.
Verstappen, for his part, claimed that Norris had left the track on his own. Both called for an investigation, but the FIA stewards saw no need to intervene.
The race continued without a penalty and Verstappen’s lead, while never huge, was impeccable. At one point, McLaren even urged Norris to catch up, assuring him that he was doing a better job with his tyre management. But the Red Bull driver never faltered.
Piastri, celebrating his 24th birthday, felt he had the pace to challenge his teammate and even Verstappen.
He radioed: “I think I have the pace to attack Max,” and cheekily asked for team orders to let him pass Norris. The call was never answered and McLaren remained as they were – Piastri third, Norris second, Verstappen triumphant.
McLaren still the benchmark – but Verstappen looms large
Despite the setback at Suzuka, McLaren remain the team to beat in 2025. Norris continues to lead the standings, with Piastri not far behind. Their car has shown consistent superiority across multiple circuits, particularly in low and medium speed corners where Red Bull still appears to be playing catch-up.
But Verstappen’s victory in Japan proves that when everything is right – from qualifying performance to race strategy – he is still capable of winning races against faster cars. It also demonstrated Red Bull’s ability to capitalize on tire life and driver skill even when outright pace is lacking.
The chasing pack, led by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, continue to struggle to break into the top three. Leclerc is a distant fourth, while Russell and Antonelli are fifth and sixth respectively. Lewis Hamilton, now in red after his move to Ferrari, could only manage seventh. Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg finished out of the points.
Verstappen’s warning shot
In a season where many thought the balance of power had shifted permanently towards McLaren, Verstappen’s return to form at Suzuka was more than just a race win – it was a statement. A signal that he and Red Bull are far from finished. And if this version of Verstappen, both playful with the press and precise on the track, continues, the title race could soon be back on an even keel.
While Norris leads the championship and McLaren maintain the momentum, Verstappen’s Suzuka success suggests that Red Bull may have more to give. With the European season just around the corner, the defending champion is creeping back into the picture – both behind the wheel and behind the microphone.
Max Verstappen is not only racing again. He’s talking again. And the rest of the grid would do well to listen.
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Red Bull have been the centre of media attention in Japan, on the whole for its surprise switch of drivers Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda for the seat alongside Max Verstappen. The Kiwi was ditched after just two race weekends of the 2025 Formula One season having been judged at two circuits where he has never driver before.
On the whole Tsunoda has delivered well at his home race in Suzuka, finishing close to his world champion team mate in practice and the the first round of qualifying where he was just a tenth of a second slower than Verstappen.
The team may have been partially responsible for Tsunoda’s exit having decided to give him used soft tyres for his first run in Q2. This was to save a second set of new tyres for Q3, but of course this became a moot point given Yuki failed to make the top ten shootout…. READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
3 time world champion, you say? Maybe a typo. Verstappen is 4 time world champion.