Max Verstappen turned the heat up to a searing boil on a British journalist in Thursday’s press conference in Suzuka.
In an unusually pointed move during the presser, the four-time world champion refused to speak while a specific reporter – The Guardian’s Giles Richards – remained in the room.
“I’m not speaking before he’s leaving,” Verstappen declared, eyes locked in a steely glare. It wasn't a request; it was an ultimatum, and one held until Richards was forced to exit, leaving a vacuum of stunned silence in his wake.
A long memory, a public stand
Verstappen’s ire traces back to the fallout from last season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when the Dutchman’s title bid against Lando Norris fell agonisingly short by two points.
In the post-race press conference, he bristled at being pressed – again – about his infamous collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, an incident that cost him dearly in the standings.
Richards’ underlying message was that Verstappen’s defeat was his own fault.
“You forget all the other stuff that happened in my season,” Verstappen hit back at the time. “The only thing you mention is Barcelona. I knew that [question] would come. You’re giving me a stupid grin now.
“I don’t know. Yeah, it’s part of racing at the end. You live and learn. The championship is one of 24 rounds. I’ve also had a lot of early Christmas presents given to me in the second half, so you can also question that.”
That exchange clearly lingered – and in Suzuka, Verstappen chose not to cut off Richards altogether.
The British blockade
The confrontation feeds into a broader grievance the Dutchman has aired repeatedly: a belief that the British-heavy F1 media landscape tilts against him.
“The problem in F1 is that 80 to 85% of the media is British,” he said after securing his fourth title in 2024. “And I did feel that some things which were written about me were not fair.”
Read also: ‘Astonished’ Wolff slams fresh Verstappen-to-Mercedes speculationIt’s a narrative he has leaned on before – famously boycotting coverage from Sky Sports in 2022 after commentary around the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
On the surface, Thursday’s standoff may look trivial. But in a sport where narratives are as fiercely contested as lap times, Verstappen’s refusal to engage was a calculated act.
Not a flash of temper – but a reminder. In his view, the fight isn’t just on track.
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