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Verstappen demands journalist's removal from media session
Max Verstappen refused to start his media session at the Japanese Grand Prix on Thursday until a journalist from UK outlet The Guardian left the room due to his ongoing objection to a question the journalist asked at last year’s F1 title-decider in Abu Dhabi.
During the post-race press conference in Abu Dhabi in 2025 – a race that Verstappen won, but where he narrowly missed out on the drivers’ championship to Lando Norris – veteran Guardian writer Giles Richards had asked Verstappen about his collision with Mercedes' George Russell in Barcelona earlier that year.
“Max, you lost out to Lando by just two points. What do you think now about the incident with George Russell in Spain? Do you regret that, looking back in hindsight?” Richards asked at the time.
Verstappen was given a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision in the Spanish Grand Prix, demoting him from fifth on the road to 10th in the official classification and costing him nine points.
“You forget all the other stuff that happened in my season,” Verstappen replied at the time. “The only thing you mention is Barcelona. I knew that would come. You’re giving me a stupid grin now.
“I don’t know. Yeah, it’s part of racing at the end. You live and learn. The championship is one of 24 rounds. I’ve also had a lot of early Christmas presents given to me in the second half, so you can also question that.”
When Verstappen arrived for his media session at Suzuka on Thursday, he took exception to Richards’ presence. The first question was being asked by another journalist, prompting the following exchange:
Verstappen: “One second, I'm not speaking before he (Richards) is leaving.”
Richards: “Seriously?”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “Because of the question last year?”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “You want me to leave?”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “It’s just [because of] the question I asked you in Abu Dhabi…”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “About why you…”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “About Spain.”
Verstappen: “Get out.”
Richards: “You're really, really that upset about it?”
Verstappen: “Yeah. Get out.”
The exchange included Richards retrieving his dictaphone before departing. Once he had left, Verstappen said: “Now we can start.”
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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