Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has excluded a British journalist from a Formula 1 press conference ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The Red Bull Racing driver refused to speak to reporters in Suzuka on Thursday until The Guardian’s Giles Richards left the room.
‘I won’t speak until he leaves’ Verstappen said.
Jayce Illman via Getty Images
According to Motorsport.com VerstappenThe annoyance dates back to a post-race media session following last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In that race, the 28-year-old Dutchman fell two points short of winning his fifth consecutive drivers’ title after a late-season push.
Richards asked Verstappen about a collision with Mercedes driver George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1. The collision resulted in a 10-second penalty, meaning… Verstappen fell five places in the final order and cost him valuable points.
“You forget all the other things that happened in my season.” Verstappen called back at the time. “The only thing you mention is Barcelona. I knew that (question) was coming. You’re looking at me stupidly now.”
“I don’t know. Yes, it is ultimately part of racing. You live and learn. The championship consists of 24 rounds. I also received a lot of early Christmas presents in the second half, so you can also question that.”
Richards published his own version of events on Thursday, saying he was “deeply disappointed” by it Verstappen gave him the boot and acknowledged that he had ‘apparently struck a nerve’.
“When he saw me, he stared, smiled and stated he would not say anything until I left. During a brief 30 second conversation, he told me to ‘go away’ twice. I have never been asked to leave a press conference,” Richards wrote.
Richards said his media colleagues were “universally shocked” by the incident.
“After receiving marching orders, I left,” he wrote. “Verstappen had smiled throughout the entire exchange. Maybe he just enjoyed the power dynamic? The day continued; There are much more serious problems in the world than an F1 driver being angry with you.”
Verstappen sits eighth in the F1 standings through two races, having finished sixth at the March 7 opener in Qatar and 16th at the Chinese Grand Prix on March 15.
