Max Verstappen feels persecuted and takes jab at Charles Leclerc amid stewards penalties. The tug-of-war between Max Verstappen and the FIA officials continues.

The tug-of-war between Max Verstappen and the FIA officials continues, and this time, Charles Leclerc is caught in the crossfire. The Dutchman didn’t appreciate the treatment he received in Mexico, nor the comments from certain high-profile TV pundits (particularly a sharp attack from Damon Hill). The championship leader explained that there is still bias in the paddock, and he knows exactly whom not to trust.

The season’s final stretch is heating up, and tensions are high. Red Bull and McLaren are the major rivals in this thrilling 2024 Formula 1 season, with Ferrari increasingly becoming a troublesome third player. While the Maranello team garners sympathy from both Woking and Brackley, those on the Milton Keynes side find themselves cast as the “villains” — at least in sporting terms.

Max Verstappen’s on-track behavior only reinforces this position: even in Mexico, the Dutchman seemed solely focused on defending fiercely against Lando Norris. His aggressive maneuvers went well beyond the regulations, drawing the ire of a long list of pundits and former F1 stars.

Max Verstappen Strikes Back: What’s the “Leclerc Issue”?
In an interview with *De Telegraaf*, a newspaper close to the Austrian team, Max Verstappen’s words were far from conciliatory: “I’ve heard it said before in my career [that I should change my on-track behavior], but this is my tenth season in Formula 1 — I think I know what I’m doing. I do my own thing, and I’m a three-time world champion.” – he pointed out.

The Dutchman then went on the offensive, reiterating his view that some officials show bias in their judgments: “Some people are a bit prejudiced. Fine, it’s not my problem; I know who they are.”

“I have to be careful not to swear, as I might get punished again. Although this seems to apply only to me: after the race in Mexico, I also heard someone else swearing.” This thinly veiled jab was likely directed at Charles Leclerc or at the officials who, last weekend, chose to overlook the “f-word” used by the Monegasque in a press conference (for which the Ferrari driver promptly apologized).