Max Verstappen ordered a reporter to leave a media session at the Japanese Grand Prix after a tense exchange over a question about a crash last season. The Red Bull driver, who has had a frustrating start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, refused to speak until the journalist left the room.
The confrontation stemmed from a question about Verstappen's collision with George Russell in Spain last year and how it affected the title race. Verstappen told the reporter, 'I'm not speaking before he leaves,' and when the journalist asked if he was serious, Verstappen confirmed his irritation with their previous interaction in Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen, who fell two points short of a fifth world title, then said, 'Get out.' The reporter had asked about the incident in Barcelona, which Verstappen had previously dismissed as 'part of racing' and criticised for focusing only on that moment rather than the entire season.
The 28-year-old has also vented his frustration with current F1 regulations, likening the sport to Mario Kart and criticising the battery-boost system. He sits eighth in the standings after failing to finish in China, with Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli setting the early pace.
