Max Verstappen served his FIA punishment for swearing at the Singapore Grand Prix in October – before he was officially crowned F1 world champion for the fourth consecutive year.
The Dutchman used an occasion during a press conference in Singapore as he described his Red Bull’s performance at the previous grand prix in Azerbaijan a week earlier.
Verstappen ordered to ‘perform some public service’ and that came to Rwanda on Friday as he attended a grassroots motorsport development program with young people.
The 27-year-old was later recognized at the FIA ​​awards gala, presented with his trophy by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem alongside Rwandan president Paul Kagame.
Verstappen was recognized at the FIA ​​awards gala on Friday
Verstappen won nine Grands Prix throughout the 2024 season and earned 437 points as he became one of only six drivers to win four or more titles since the championship’s inception in 1950.
He said: “It’s amazing, four titles is definitely incredible. Of course I also hope it doesn’t stop here. I hope we have success for a longer time.
“This year the competition is very close, but again in 2026 a lot is going to change.”
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Nico Rosberg says it’s ‘so hard to be a friend’ when fighting for a championship and Lando Norris’ relationship with Verstappen may have to change
Verstappen won the title with two laps remaining in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, having built an unassailable advantage over McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Norris, who helped McLaren secure its first Constructors’ Championship since 1998, received his award for finishing second, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took home the third-place trophy.
Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez whose place looks to be under threat for 2025 after an extremely underwhelming seasonwas voted Act of the Year winner for an overrun in China but did not attend the gala in Rwanda.
