-
Max Verstappen refused to begin a press conference until a British journalist left the room
-
The incident relates to a question asked after last season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
-
Verstappen lost the 2025 title to Lando Norris by two points, with a Spanish GP penalty proving costly
-
The journalist says difficult questions are “the job that comes with the privilege”
Max Verstappen triggered a tense confrontation at the Japanese Grand Prix on Thursday, refusing to start a press conference until a specific reporter was removed.
The Red Bull driver was seated in the team’s hospitality area at Suzuka when he gestured toward Giles Richards of The Guardian and said: “I’m not speaking before he’s leaving.” When Richards asked whether the demand stemmed from a question he had posed last season, Verstappen replied “yes” and told him to “get out”.
Background to the Clash
The dispute traces back to the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, where Verstappen missed a fifth world title by two points, finishing behind Lando Norris. Richards had asked about the impact of a penalty Verstappen received at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, when he was sanctioned for ramming Mercedes driver George Russell.
Journalist Responds
In a subsequent statement, Richards said he was “deeply disappointed” to be ejected, noting that his previous interviews with Verstappen had been “friendly and good humoured”. He added that his reporting had always been fair, with criticism “minimal and only when warranted”.
“Sometimes, difficult, awkward questions have to be asked,” Richards wrote. “That’s the job that comes with the privilege.”
