Max Verstappen ordered a journalist to leave his press conference at the Japanese Grand Prix on Thursday, reigniting a dispute over a question asked at the end of last season. The Dutch driver refused to speak until Giles Richards, a Formula One correspondent, departed the room.
Richards, who has covered the sport for over a decade, said he was taken aback by the ultimatum. The exchange stemmed from a question at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, when Richards asked Verstappen whether he regretted an incident in Spain where he collided with George Russell and received a 10-second penalty. Verstappen, who lost the championship by two points, reacted angrily at the time.
At Suzuka, Verstappen confronted Richards with a smile, telling him to “get out”. Richards confirmed the reason was the Abu Dhabi question. “You’re really that upset about it?” Richards asked, to which Verstappen replied: “Get out. Yeah. Get out.”
Richards described the ejection as a rare occurrence in Formula One, with few journalists able to recall similar incidents. Colleagues expressed shock and offered support, with one describing Verstappen’s behaviour as “classless”. Richards also received abusive emails accusing him of bias, which he dismissed.
Despite the incident, Richards said he still admires Verstappen and hopes for a better relationship in future. “Difficult, awkward questions have to be asked,” he wrote. “That’s the job that comes with the privilege.”
