Get out' - Max Verstapkan ejects British journalist from press conference in Japan ahead
Four-time world champion Max Verstappe has ejected a reporter during the pre-race media event, demanding he leave immediately before continuing his interview with other journalists present at Suzuka Circuit on March 26th. The incident occurred just hours prior to what was expected as being another flashpoint in Formula One ahead of this weekend's race where tensions have been high between drivers and press coverage has become increasingly contentious across multiple news outlets globally including BBC, Der Standard, Japantoday among others who all reported on the same event unfolding live.
Key Points
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1Max Verstapkan refused to begin his pre-race media session at the Japanese Grand Prix until a British journalist left the room.
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2The incident occurred during Thursday's press conference in Suzuka when Red Bull driver lost composure over questions from last year.
Perspectives
Max Verstappen refused to start his media session on Thursday in Japan until a journalist left the room over a question asked at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
— @theathletic.comThings took a tense turn during a press conference ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix when Max Verstappen lost his composure with a British journalist, telling him to get out after taking exception to questions and 'stupid grin' from last year's season finale in Abu Dhabi.
— @prod-qt-images.s3.amazonaws.com'I'm not speaking before he's leaving,' said Max Verstappen as the Red Bull star kicked an English journalist for his question at Suzuka, halting a scheduled media session ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix to reignite tensions with reporters.
— @indiatoday.inRed Bull driver Max Verstappen halted his media session at Suzuka and ejected English journalist Giles Richards after the latter questioned him about an incident from last year's Spanish Grand Prix where he was penalized for colliding with George Russell, a move that cost Red bull points in their championship battle.
Max Verstappen ordered journalist Giles Richards to leave a scheduled media session at the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix after objecting to an unrelated question about his previous season's performance. The four-time champion expressed frustration over being singled out for past incidents while noting that Red Bull has struggled against Mercedes and dislikes recent regulatory changes emphasizing electrical power units ahead of Sunday's race in Suzuka on March 26, 2026.
Maximilianus van der Veen (Verstappen) a refusé toute interview et expulsé le journaliste Giles Richards du Guardian après une session d'écriture à Suzuka. Cette réaction violente, qui remonte au Grand Prix de Barcelone en 2025 où Verstappen s'est plaint que l'interviewer ait focalisé uniquement sur son crash plutôt qu'autre chose dans sa saison, marque un retour des tensions médiatiques autour du pilote néerlandais avant le début d'un week-end déjà chargé.