Amidst the post-qualifying press conference for the Singapore Grand Prix, Formula 1 championship leader Max Verstappen opted for a strikingly taciturn approach, protesting against the penalty he received for swearing in a previous session. The Red Bull Racing driver was issued a "work of public interest" sanction by the FIA after using strong language to express frustration about his car following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite qualifying in second place for Sunday's race, Verstappen chose to provide succinct one-word responses during the official press conference, in contrast to engaging in detailed discussions during independent interviews with James Hinchcliffe.

Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction with the penalty during a separate post-press conference session, highlighting the perceived severity of the sanctions imposed by the FIA for swearing in media sessions. The Dutch driver suggested that the new rules regarding language restrictions aimed to set a precedent, indicating that he felt disproportionately targeted by the officials. He emphasized that while he held no ill feelings towards the stewards personally, the stringent enforcement of the regulations illustrated a disconnect between the code of conduct and the practical application of penalties.

Fellow drivers, including Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, voiced their support for Verstappen's protest, citing their disagreement with the severity of the penalty. Norris jokingly commented that Verstappen "deserved it" before expressing his belief that the situation was unjust. Hamilton echoed these sentiments, labeling the penalty as "a bit of a joke" and advising Verstappen against fulfilling the community service aspects of the punishment. The collective response from the drivers underscored a shared sentiment of disapproval towards the consequences faced by Verstappen for his comments.