Max Verstappen: ‘Significant disrespect’ led to journalist’s removal from press conference
Max Verstappen stated that he removed a British journalist from his media session at Suzuka due to a “massive lack of respect” regarding a question posed at the conclusion of the previous season.
The Red Bull racer declined to commence his standard written media session on Thursday until the journalist — Giles Richards from The Guardian — exited the team hospitality area, asserting “I’m not speaking before he’s leaving,” and repeatedly instructing him to “get out.”
Verstappen had been displeased with a question Richards directed at him following the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, concerning an incident involving Mercedes driver George Russell.
Frustrated by a penalty and an early collision with Russell, Verstappen collided with the side of Russell’s vehicle, resulting in a 10-second penalty that dropped him from fifth to tenth place, costing him nine championship points, which seemed to have significant implications for his title battle with Lando Norris.
The specific question posed was: “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?”
Verstappen responded: “You forget all the other things that occurred in my season. The only thing you mention is Barcelona. I anticipated that would come. You’re giving me a silly grin now. I don’t know. “Yeah, it’s part of racing in the end. You live and learn. The championship consists of 24 rounds. I’ve also received a lot of early Christmas gifts in the second half, so you can question that as well.”
In an interview with Dutch broadcaster ViaPlay on Friday ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen elaborated on the matter.
He seemed to expand on his interpretation of the journalist’s “silly grin,” asserting that Richards was “laughing in my face” when he asked the question.
When asked to clarify why he expelled the journalist, Verstappen explained: “For me, that specific question I believe I’ve addressed like 20 times with different individuals. So it’s not about the question itself. I always clarify it thoroughly with the thought process and what transpired back then.
“However, after the final race, when you pose that question and start laughing in my face while asking it, and it’s clearly done with ill intent at that moment, it demonstrates a significant lack of respect.
“Thus, for me, when you’re not respectful towards me, I don’t feel the need to be respectful towards you. I think that’s how it operates in life, very straightforward, very simple. And that’s why I acted that way. That’s why I did it here on Thursday. For me, it’s not appropriate.
“I hold a lot of respect for everyone. I receive numerous questions, many of which are foolish, but I respond to them. Not every question is excellent or whatever; that’s part of Formula 1. But in this particular instance, it was clearly executed with bad intent.
“Of course, at that moment in Abu Dhabi, you only see the camera directed at my face, so you don’t observe what is happening behind the camera and how questions are posed. For me, it was very evident it was done in a highly disrespectful manner.”
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When asked if he would meet with the journalist to resolve the issue, Verstappen shook his head. “Not now,” he replied.
Richards documented the ejection in The Guardian on Thursday.
Regarding the suggestion that he was grinning or laughing at Verstappen, he stated: “I’m not certain I had a silly grin. I was indeed surprised by the intensity of his response, which may have elicited a nervous smile. However, I did not find it amusing, nor was I enjoying myself at his expense.”
Verstappen has a history with members of the British media and has consistently emphasized that he believes he receives biased coverage from them — a sentiment he felt was particularly true during and after his 2021 title battle with Lewis Hamilton.
In this context, Richards noted: “The incident and its aftermath are regrettable nonetheless. Not least due to the allegations of bias. Over the years, I’ve been accused of anti-Lewis Hamilton, anti-Sebastian Vettel, anti-you-name-the-driver bias. Reporting as honestly and fairly as possible is always the single overarching aim.
“I still admire Verstappen and hope we can foster a better relationship in the future. Sometimes, difficult, awkward questions must be posed. That’s the responsibility that accompanies the privilege.”
ESPN understands that Red Bull has reached out to Richards in an effort to mediate the situation.
When asked by ViaPlay on Friday if he would sit down with Richards, Verstappen responded “not now,” in a manner suggesting he might be open to it in the future.
Source: espn.com
