The FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) have been told to 'take Max Verstappen seriously' after he threatened to retire from Formula One.
It comes amid an ongoing feud after Verstappen was punished for swearing during a press conference before the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this month.
The Dutchman was told to do community service after making an x-rated comment in his press conference, sparking a furious reaction including a threat to retire.
Verstappen has taken further shots at the FIA since the race concluded, which saw him finish second, while Red Bull Formula One director Helmut Marko has told the organisation to take the world champion seriously.
Max Verstappen was punished for swearing in his press conference
Reuters
"You have to take Max seriously," he told Motorsport-Total.
"He has achieved a great deal, but it is important to him that he also enjoys the whole sport.
"If that is increasingly spoiled for him, then he is of a character that when he says: 'Okay, that's it.'
"He means it seriously, but I hope that the current situation won't really cause him to retire soon."
Red Bull have had several problems in recent weeks including the depatures of key staff like Adrian Newey and Will Courtenay while Verstappen's future has been spoken at length.
The 27-year-old revealed he could retire from the sport, saying: “Yeah. I mean, these kinds of things definitely decide my future as well, when you can’t be yourself, or you have to deal with these kinds of silly things.
“I think now, I’m at the stage of my career that you don’t want to be dealing with this all the time.
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Helmut Marko has sent the FIA a warning
Reuters
“It’s really tiring, you know? Of course, it’s great to have success and win races.
"But once you have accomplished all that, winning championships and races, and then you want to just have a good time as well.
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Max Verstappen fumed over his punishment and threatened to quit F1
Reuters
“Of course, everyone is pushing to the limit, everyone in this battle, even at the back of the grid.
"But if you have to deal with all these kind of silly things, for me, that is not a way of continuing in the sport, that’s for sure.”
