Overview

• Verstappen currently sits just one penalty point shy of the threshold for an automatic race ban under the FIA’s superlicence rules.
• To avoid further sanctions, he has limited his responses at FIA press conferences to “no comment” or brief refusals to engage with queries about governance and penalties.
• The FIA’s recent release of stewards’ guidelines cites Article 12.2.1.f, allowing penalties for any remarks deemed damaging to the organization’s interests.
• Verstappen believes the regulations are vague enough to interpret routine comments as criticism and says he will let other drivers voice concerns.
• Outside official FIA settings, he has been more forthcoming in Dutch media, revealing the tactic is designed to pressure the governing body into rethinking its approach.