Max Verstappen has explained why he controversially dismissed a British journalist from his news conference at Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion made headlines on Thursday at Suzuka when he ejected a journalist from his session with the written media which took place in Red Bull’s hospitality unit ahead of the weekend.
Verstappen refused to answer questions until The Guardian’s Giles Richards left, telling him to “get out” on two separate occasions because of a grievance that dates back to last year’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
After the season finale, in which Verstappen lost out on the drivers’ title to McLaren’s Lando Norris by two points, Richards asked the Dutchman whether he “regretted” his collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Verstappen was hit with a penalty for appearing to deliberately drive into Russell’s Mercedes at Barcelona, dropping him five places from fifth to 10th and costing him nine points in the title race.
“I got that question quite often last year, and I think I answered it more than twenty times,” Verstappen told Viaplay after qualifying in Japan.
“So when someone asks that question during the press conference after the last race and also laughs in your face, to me that has to do with a complete lack of respect. If you don’t give me respect, why would I give you respect?
“You only see the camera pointed at me and not at that person, who just started laughing. And you could clearly see that there was malicious intent behind it at that moment. That is enough for me.
“I have been in Formula 1 long enough to know who has good intentions and who has bad intentions. If you go and laugh at me right there, you clearly don’t have good intentions.”
Writing a response to the incident, Richards said he might have had a “nervous smile” due to the “vehemence” of Verstappen’s reply in Abu Dhabi, but “did not think it was funny, nor was I enjoying myself at his expense.”
Journalist suffered online abuse
Richards also revealed he received online abuse in the aftermath of the confrontation.
“Within two hours someone had tracked down my email,” Richards said. “’You’re the problem. You’re the toxic dipshit who’s responsible for the whole British bias in F1. You’re the worst,’ it read.
“As abuse goes at least the apostrophes were in the correct places and it was not written in green crayon. I have not looked at X and have no plans to do so.”
Richards said he was left “deeply disappointed” by Verstappen’s actions.
“I still admire Verstappen and I hope we can enjoy a better relationship in the future,” he added. “Sometimes, difficult, awkward questions have to be asked. That’s the job that comes with the privilege.”
