Max Verstappen has hinted at the possibility of walking away from Formula One after receiving a community service order for swearing during a recent press conference.

The reigning world champion faced sanctions from the sport’s governing body, the FIA, after he referred to his Red Bull car as “f*****” during a televised press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

In protest of his punishment, Verstappen effectively boycotted the FIA’s mandatory post-qualifying media call on Saturday and offered minimal responses after finishing second in the race.

When asked about the implications of his punishment on his future in Formula One, Verstappen, who is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, stated, “These kinds of things definitely decide my future. If you can’t be yourself or have to deal with these silly things, it makes you reconsider.”

The 26-year-old expressed his frustration, saying, “I’m at the stage of my career where I don’t want to deal with this all the time. It’s really tiring. Winning races is great, but after achieving that, you also want to enjoy yourself.”

Verstappen emphasized that while everyone in the paddock is pushing their limits, dealing with trivial matters detracts from the sport. “For me, that’s not a way to continue in this sport, that’s for sure,” he added.

Having previously mentioned that he feels halfway through his career, Verstappen has also raised concerns about the increasing demands of the F1 calendar. Currently holding a 52-point lead over Lando Norris with six races remaining, he declared, “I will always be myself. I won’t change who I am. At some point, enough is enough. Racing will go on, and F1 will go on without me.”

As Verstappen prepares to chase his fourth consecutive title, he will return to the track for the next round in Austin, Texas, on October 20