Ernest Knoors, who barely spoke at the FIA ​​press conference after qualifying, believes that Max Verstappen did not properly handle his complaint to the FIA ​​and its President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Verstappen was angry with the FIA ​​after he was penalised for swearing at the drivers' press conference in Singapore on Thursday, despite Ben Sulayem pledging a tougher crackdown on swearing.

Max Verstappen: I could get a fine or an extra day, so…

The Dutchman, who described the problem with his RB20 with the word “damn”, was sentenced to carry out “some work of public interest” as punishment.

Without saying too much, actually hardly anything, he made his opinion clear when he took part in the post-qualifying press conference on Saturday.

Although he spoke freely with James Hinchcliffe in the trackside interview, he kept his answers brief at the press conference.

Q: What did you change overnight? It seems like there has been a big difference in performance recently.
MV: A lot.

Q: Can you explain in more detail what you did?
MV: No, I might get a fine or an extra day, so…

And so it went on until the reigning world champion said: “This is not directed at you, don't worry. I don't want to upset you.”

When asked how much longer he plans to keep this up, he replied: “I'll answer the phone. But not much. I have a problem with my voice.”

However, he was happy to speak to the media “outside the room” and did so on the way back to the Red Bull hospitality.

His antics sparked mixed reactions. Lewis Hamilton, for example, called his punishment a “joke,” while Nico Rosberg accused the 26-year-old of “pushing the limits.”

Former Ferrari engineer Knoors says that while he understands how drivers communicate over the radio in the heat of battle, Verstappen did not handle the press conference well.

“I understand it completely,” the former Ferrari engineer told Viaplay. “It's about conversations he has with his engineer, but at these press conferences you represent your team. You're there as a driver. You're not talking to a journalist, you're talking to all the people who are fans of him – or not. But I don't think you should do that.”

“That’s neither smart nor clever. It doesn’t seem likeable.”

“I understand his point of view, but I would do it differently. I would simply answer questions and then at the end point out that I want to say something else and then make my point clear.”

“I would advise him to do so, but he doesn't need advice from us.”

“I think this is really aimed at the FIA ​​president who is instigating this,” Knoors added. “This is an FIA press conference and outside of it he behaves normally, so if that is what is behind it, I can understand it, but just say you don't agree with the FIA ​​president.”

Read more: The high price for Max Verstappen’s winless streak revealed