‘People can’t handle the truth’ – Verstappen FUMES after being given five-second penalty and takes swipe at F1 bosses

MAX VERSTAPPEN feels the FIA is gagging him as the four-time world champion says “people cannot handle the truth”.

The Dutch Red Bull driver was left frustrated after being slapped with a five-second penalty for illegally going off the track in a battle with Oscar Piastri on the first lap.

Max Verstappen at a press conference.
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Max VErstappen hit out at his penalty during the Saudi GPCredit: Getty

Max Verstappen speaking with Mohammed ben Sulayem.
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He also confronted FIA President Mohammed ben SulayemCredit: Getty
This cost Verstappen, who finished in second, and he slammed the punishment as “f***ing lovely” on his team radio and walked off after a blunt post-race interview.

When asked about the penalty he said: “I can’t share my opinion otherwise I might get penalised so better not to speak about it.

“The world we live in, you can’t share your opinion fully, apparently, or people can’t handle the full truth.

“For me it’s better. I don’t need to say too much, it also saves my time.

“We already have to do too much, it’s how everything is becoming.

“Everyone is super sensitive about everything.

“Of course what we have currently we cannot be critical anyway, that’s fine, less talking is even better for me.

When asked if his anger was directed at the FIA’s swearing rules, he said: “I know I cannot swear in here but at the same time you can also not be critical.

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“Or any kind of form that might harm or danger, let me get the sheet out…

“There’s a lot of lines, that’s why it’s better not to talk about it or you can get yourself in trouble and I don’t think anyone wants that.”
Max Verstappen snaps at Sky Sports broadcaster as he addresses Red Bull future

Oscar Piastri giving a thumbs up on a podium.
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Oscar Piastri won the Saudi GPCredit: Getty
Verstappen suggested that he could be hit with a fine if he were to speak out of line.

And he wouldn’t have been the first driver to have to pay up for an unusual reason.

Carlos Sainz was hit with a £17,000 bill for breaching pre-race procedure despite suffering a medical issue at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The punishment came after he was seconds late to the national anthem due to an upset stomach.

He has then risked a £34,500 fine for his X-rated outburst following the original sanction.

McLaren’s Piastri powered home to win the Saudi GP and go top of the Drivers’ Championship.

After claiming victory, Piastri said: “I’m looking for a couch, it was a pretty tough race.

“I’m very happy to have obviously won, I made the difference at the start and made my case into Turn One, and that was enough.

“It was really tricky to follow out there, I couldn’t really stay with Max Verstappen at the end of the first stint and I just chewed up my tyres.

“The clean air was nice after the pit stop, it was a clean race and we did the parts we needed to right.

“We still needed a bit more, Max [Verstappen] was a bit too close for our liking but a great race and a great weekend.”

There is now a two-week break before the next F1 race.

Race six will come on May 4 in Miami as the first of three races in the United States this season.

It is also the second Sprint Race of the season, following on from China.