What Max Verstappen did after his Singapore Grand Prix press conference which ‘never happens’ in F1

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was the talk of the paddock throughout the Singapore Grand Prix for his actions both on and off the track.

Very few people were predicting Red Bull to have a strong weekend, but Max Verstappen still managed to put his car on the front row of the grid in qualifying and then split the two McLaren drivers on Sunday’s podium.

Lando Norris was exceptional all weekend and aside from Verstappen and Oscar Piastri reacting to Norris’s near miss during the race, he was never challenged on his way to his third victory of the season.

However, Verstappen with the help of Daniel Ricciardo’s fastest lap prevented his lead in the Drivers’ Championship being reduced too much by coming home right behind the young Brit.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

That’s not where the talking points end when it comes to Verstappen after a swearing row that dominated proceedings away from the track.

The triple world champion was given a community service order for swearing in an FIA official press conference.

It led to some very awkward answers to questions later in the weekend and journalist Julianne Cerasoli, talking on the Pit Pass Podcast, admitted that Verstappen did something which ‘never happens’ after Sunday’s race.

The Dutchman had a crowd of journalists following him through the paddock on a couple of different occasions as he refused to properly engage with any more official FIA media requirements.

It’s created a rift between the drivers and the sport after Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s no-swearing request.

Max Verstappen gave written media private Singapore Grand Prix press conference

Talking about Verstappen’s media interactions at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Cerasoli said: “But there would be another very good interview afterwards.

“Max Verstappen, once again, he was in the FIA press conference because he came in second place and he was very vague in the FIA press conference.

“We got a message, I think it was just before the press conference started from Red Bull saying he’s got 10 minutes with print media after this session, which is something that never happens.

“If you want to ask something of the top three drivers, you have to do it in the FIA press conference. They never do a separate one.

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“So, we got this message, very late message, and then we all went there and he said, I’m going to do this because here I can say whatever I want.

“The way they are doing it with the ruling is that they are going to create robots.

“That’s not the direction I think this sport would like to take.

“He said, I’ll always be myself and I’m not going to change how I am in my life anyway and also how I’m operating here.”

How Red Bull ‘transformed’ Max Verstappen’s Singapore Grand Prix

Going into Friday’s practice sessions, the Red Bull looked as difficult to drive as last year at the only circuit where they didn’t have a driver standing on the top step of the podium at the end of the race.

However, Red Bull made a key change to Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s car before qualifying, suddenly making driving much easier.

They can thank sim driver Sebastien Buemi for his work behind the scenes as he worked out several of the issues both drivers were facing.

Verstappen made the most of those changes and kept the pressure on Norris who will be well aware that he needs to be perfect between now and the end of the season to have any chance of winning the title.

Unfortunately for Perez, another poor qualifying performance ruined his race and has raised more question marks about his long-term future with the team.