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Formula 1 points leader Max Verstappen essentially protested the community service order he received for swearing by refusing to answer the majority of questions in the FIA's post-qualifying press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Verstappen attracted the wrath of the stewards for swearing in Thursday's pre-event FIA press conference when describing the balance of his Red Bull in Baku as "f***ed".
The stewards investigated Verstappen, who apologised to for his bad language, and found him guilty of breaching the FIA's international sporting code via "misconduct". The stewards said Verstappen was "obliged to accomplish some work of public interest", motorsport's answer to community service.
Verstappen, who was second in Singapore GP qualifying, made his displeasure at the punishment clear in Saturday's press conference.
He answered an initial question from host Tom Clarkson ordinarily, praising Red Bull for the job it did overnight to transform the RB20's prospects from a car struggling to match the midfield to one starting on the front row.
But that was followed by a bizarre exchange:
Tom Clarkson: What did you change overnight?
Max Verstappen: A lot.
TC: Can you elaborate?
MV: No I might get fined or get an extra day [of community service].
TC: Well look Max, are you confident of the race pace?
MV: Maybe.
TC: How much of the race is a step into the unknown given the problems you had in practice?
MV: It's an unknown.
TC: Tell us about lining up on the...
MV: This is not about you, don't worry. I don't want to upset you.
TC: We're fine but can you just tell us about lining up alongside Lando in terms of the championship battle and your tactics in the race?
MV: We'll find out tomorrow.
As usual, following Clarkson's questions to the top three qualifiers, the session was then opened up to questions from the media attending the race.
Verstappen received the first question on how much of Red Bull's turnaround was down to the team getting the car balance right versus the driver getting more out of the car.
"I would prefer if you asked these questions outside the room," Verstappen replied.
Verstappen received sympathy from both polesitter Lando Norris and his former F1 title adversary Lewis Hamilton.
"It's pretty unfair, I don't agree with any of it," Norris said when asked for his thoughts on Verstappen's punishment.
Hamilton, who qualified third, concurred: "It's a bit of a joke to be honest. This is the pinnacle of the sport, mistakes are made. I certainly wouldn't be doing it [the community service] and I hope Max doesn't do it."
Verstappen continued to "no comment" any further questions and made good on his promise to speak to the media when he left the press conference.
He was swarmed by reporters as he walked from the FIA press conference room back to Red Bull hospitality, directing them to ask him questions as he headed to the broadcast pen for TV interviews.
"I find it ridiculous what happened, so why should I then give full answers? Because it is very easy, apparently, that you get a fine or some sort of penalty, so I prefer then not to speak a lot, save my voice, and of course we can do the interviews also somewhere else," Verstappen explained after the press conference.
"Honestly, I think what I said wasn't that bad. Of course, I get that if you aim it at someone that's bad. Emotions can run high, but it's still not OK, I understand that.
"But I felt like it was quite ridiculous what was given to me."
Asked if he had support from other drivers, Verstappen said "Yes. But of course some speak out a bit more than others, but I think in general it is quite clear what everyone thinks."
The topic had been discussed in the drivers' briefing prior to qualifying.
The Race understands the FIA has no intention of taking any action over Verstappen's conduct in this press conference.
