F1 break proves timely after Max Verstappen posted about spat in drivers' WhatsApp

Another F1 break will bring frustration for fans - but it's probably come at a good time for a seething Max Verstappen.

We're now in the midst of an unintentional autumn interval which is as long as the sport's summer shutdown. After last weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, there are four weeks to wait for the racing to return at the Circuit of the Americas.

Verstappen and Red Bull have plenty to ponder with Lando Norris closing the gap in the driver's championship to just 52 points with six races, and three sprints, to go. So his spat with the FIA very much served as an unwanted distraction at Yas Marina.

The three-time world champion was slapped with a community service penalty for swearing in a press conference. For the rest of the weekend he made a point of answering with one word or no comment.

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He shared his frustration in the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) group chat, telling reporters of their reaction: “I wrote in the GPDA [chat] the ruling, and everyone was almost laughing like, 'what the hell is that' basically. So, yeah, it is very, very silly.”

While it was likely an empty threat, Verstappen's emotions were summed up when he suggested any more clampdowns on minor issues such as swearing could push him to retire prematurely. "These kind of things definitely decide my future," he insisted.

"If you can't be yourself or you have to deal with these silly things. I'm now at the stage of my career that you don't want to be dealing with this all the time. It's really tiring. Of course it's great to have success and win races.

"But once you've accomplished all of that, then you want to just have a good time as well. If you have to deal with all these kinds of silly things, for me that is not a way of continuing in this sport, that's for sure."

If the paddock were heading straight to the United States for a second successive race weekend, the situation may have threatened to boil over into an unnecessary escalation. But Verstappen now has ample time to cool off.

He hinted himself that a break would be beneficial post-race in Singapore. When asked if he would continue doing his own press conferences as well as the FIA's scheduled slots, he replied: "I mean, let's first take a break from it all, from F1 also in two weeks. At least two weeks, and go at it again in Austin. See where we're at."

Although his order to complete "work of public interest" could yet threaten to reignite the feud if the FIA enforce it upon his return. "At the moment I'm not even thinking about it," Verstappen added.

"I'm just focused on the performance, what we are going to do for Austin and beyond. That's what I'm thinking about and for me, I shouldn't waste any energy on it actually because it's just very silly."