The FIA rule change on criticism that has Max Verstappen remain silent

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen refused to discuss the five-second penalty he received at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix because of fear that new Formula One rules would punish him for his honesty.
Verstappen dove into the inside line of McLaren driver Oscar Piastri in a bid to take the lead, but when not presented with space, he chose to drive over the curb and was punished for the move the stewards. But afterwards, when asked for his explanation, Verstappen continued his war against the FIA not choosing to use the words he really wanted to.
“You can’t share your opinion because it’s not appreciated apparently, or people can’t handle the full truth. Honestly, it’s better if I don’t say too much,” said Verstappen at the end of the race in Riyadh, where he lost just 2.8 seconds.
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“It’s honestly just how everything is becoming. Everyone’s super-sensitive about everything. And what we have (in the rules) currently, we cannot be critical anyway. So less talking – even better for me,” said the Dutchman.
In the official press conference, he spoke further about not wanting to speak about the penalty and said: “I cannot swear in here, but at the same time, you also can’t be critical in any form that might ‘harm’ or ‘danger’… Let me get the sheet out. There’s a lot of lines, you know?”
The FIA added new rules to their rulebook earlier this season, with one of them pointing to punishments if drivers were critical of the FIA. The exact words in the rulebook state, “any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motor sport and on the values defended the FIA”.
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