Max Verstappen REFUSES to answer questions after swearing row as Lewis Hamilton urges him not to serve ‘joke’ punishment

MAX VERSTAPPEN took a vow of silence after being hit with Formula One’s ‘community service’ punishment for swearing in a press conference.

The Dutchman all but refused to answer questions in yesterday’s press conference after securing second-place in qualifying behind Lando Norris.

Max Verstappen remained silent about his swearing row in a press conference

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He answered one question with “no comment” and told reporters “I would prefer if you ask these questions outside of the room”.

Third-place Lewis Hamilton and Norris have rallied around the Red Bull driver with the seven-time world champion slamming the “joke” punishment.

Hamilton said: “I honestly think it’s a joke. This is the pinnacle of the sport, mistakes are made.

“I certainly wouldn’t do that (serve the punishment) and I hope Max doesn’t either.”

Following the press conference, Verstappen was true to his word and met with the media outside of the press conference room to answer questions.

On Friday the Dutchman was sent to stewards after he said his car was “f***ed” in the press conference.

Yesterday the fuming Belgian-born driver said: “It’s ridiculous to get a penalty for that.

“When you insult someone that’s clear. I didn’t even aim it at a person, it was a slip of the tongue moment.

“I actually had a chat with the stewards, they’re understanding. It’s in the rules so they have to apply something but for me it’s not the right way to go forward in our sport.”

Norris joked: “He deserved it , foul language! No, it’s pretty unfair. I don’t agree with any of it.”

Norris and Verstappen will battle it out at the front of the grid tomorrow with the McLaren driver trailing his title-rival by 59 points in the championship.

Q3 all came down to one lap due to a crash from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz at the final corner, with only two drivers having set a time on the board.

Norris produced a blistering lap in the final showdown after McLaren chose to leave the pit lane first to avoid the risk of a yellow or red flag.

Hamilton had struggled throughout practice but pipped team-mate George Russell to third.

Oscar Piastri will start from fifth, with Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso behind him.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was initially seventh but had his lap deleted due to a track limits excursion, and will start in ninth alongside Sainz in 10th.

Norris said: “It was tough, especially through qualifying. I was finding it a little difficult to progress much and gain a lot of lap time,

“All of the guys around seemed to get quicker and quicker, so it put me under a bit more pressure, especially with just one lap at the end.

“It was good enough for pole and I’m happy with that, especially here in Singapore.

Lewis Hamilton spoke in support of Max Verstappen and his punishment

“A good feeling. I’ve felt good all weekend, I’ve felt confident, maybe not so much in qualy but we got the job done.”

Hamilton’s third place is his best qualifying since he was second on the grid at the British Grand Prix.

He said: “Qualifying has been a disaster for me all year long and I have just been working and working and working trying to get myself back up there and all of a sudden the car came to me for the first time in a long time in qualifying.

“We have been moving up and down on balance. We have changed everything and the mechanics have been faultless and I hope we are in a good position to fight for the front tomorrow.”

Earlier in the day third practice was hit with chaos as a LIZARD wandered onto the track and forced a red flag.

It forced Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso to give it a wide berth on the street circuit.

Meanwhile, Mercedes driver Russell said the lizard “looked like a dragon” on the team radio.