Max Verstappen tells F1 journalist to ‘get out’ as tensions boil over at Japanese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen refused to answer any questions at his Japanese Grand Prix press conference until a journalist left the room, with the Red Bull driver still angry over a question from Abu Dhabi last season

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Max Verstappen furiously told a reporter to ‘get out’ of his media session at Suzuka on Thursday(Image: AP)

Max Verstappen dramatically ejected a journalist from his media session at the Japanese Grand Prix, declining to field any questions until the reporter had departed. The four-time Formula 1 champion has experienced a challenging beginning to the new season by his lofty standards.

He claimed sixth place at the season opener in Melbourne before a mechanical failure ended his race prematurely at the Chinese Grand Prix. Verstappen already trails the lead in the drivers’ championship standings by 43 points and will be keen to reduce that deficit at Suzuka this weekend. However, things began on a tense note on Thursday when the Dutchman had a confrontation with a reporter during his press conference.

His frustration originated from a question posed in Abu Dhabi last December, where Verstappen came agonisingly close to securing a fifth title but missed out by just two points.

The question concerned an incident at last year’s Spanish Grand Prix, when the 28 year old intentionally collided with George Russell in a moment of exasperation. He was handed a 10-second time penalty, which deprived him of nine points and, in hindsight, would have made the difference in the title race.

After the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen was questioned about whether he regretted the incident and responded sharply: “You forget all the other stuff that happened in my season. The only thing you mention is Barcelona. I knew that would come. You’re giving me a stupid grin now.”

The same journalist, the F1 correspondent for the Guardian newspaper, was amongst those attending Verstappen’s written media session at Suzuka on Thursday. His presence was noticed by the Red Bull driver who point-blank refused to answer any questions until the reporter had departed the room.

“I’m not speaking before he leaves,” he declared, to which the journalist responded: “Seriously?” Verstappen stood firm: “Yeah.” The reporter enquired: “Because of the question last year? You want me to leave? It’s just the question I asked you in Abu Dhabi? About Spain?”

Verstappen shot back: “Get out.” The journalist said: “You’re really that upset about it?” to which the response was: “Yeah, get out.” After the reporter had exited, Verstappen appeared more at ease and told the gathered press: “Now we can start.”

Media sessions form part of each driver’s expected responsibilities at Grand Prix weekends, but only the FIA press conferences are compulsory. Consequently, it will fall to Red Bull whether to step in to repair relations between Verstappen and the journalist concerned.

‘Childish’ act is beneath Verstappen – F1 correspondent Daniel Moxon

He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve always found Max Verstappen to be thoroughly pleasant company and a nice, straightforward guy to deal with. He can be outspoken in the heat of the moment, but is usually pretty measured about most of what he says.

Which is why it was so disappointing him to see him childishly kick a journalist out of his media session at the Japanese Grand Prix on Thursday. The journalist in question, the F1 correspondent for the Guardian newspaper, angered Verstappen at the Abu Dhabi GP last December by asking him if he regretted slamming into George Russell in Barcelona earlier that season, having missed out on the title by two points.

Max famously replied by telling the journalist that he was wearing “a stupid grin”, but nothing more has been said about it since. It’s clear Verstappen is still fuming with him, though, as he bluntly told the reporter to “get out” of his session with written media at Suzuka, and refused to start until it happened.

Denying a journalist access to a simple media session over a personal vendetta is completely unacceptable. And even though Verstappen clearly has a lot of free rein at Red Bull, his team should not have allowed it to happen. Hopefully the FIA gets involved to say it can’t happen again, because we can’t allow a situation where journalists aren’t allowed to ask the tough questions for fear of reprisal.