“Get Out”: Verstappen Ejects Reporter from Japan GP Press Conference Over 2025 Grudge
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen sparked a media firestorm at the Japanese Grand Prix on Thursday, refusing to begin his press conference until an English journalist was removed from the room.
The Red Bull driver had just sat down at the team’s hospitality suite in Suzuka when he spotted Giles Richards, a veteran reporter for The Guardian. Verstappen immediately halted the session, stating, “I’m not speaking before he’s leaving,” while gesturing toward the journalist.
The Abu Dhabi Grudge
The tension dates back to the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi last December. Verstappen lost the World Championship to McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere two points—ending his four-year reign as the king of F1.
During the post-race conference in Abu Dhabi, Richards had questioned whether Verstappen regretted a controversial incident at the Spanish Grand Prix in June 2024. In that race, Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for a collision with Mercedes’ George Russell, dropping him from 5th to 10th place. The nine points lost in that single incident ultimately exceeded the two-point margin by which he lost the title.
The Exchange in Suzuka
When Richards asked if the ejection was due to that specific question from last year, Verstappen replied with a blunt “Yes” and repeatedly told the reporter to “Get out.”
Once the journalist vacated the suite, Verstappen resumed the briefing, reportedly cutting a relaxed figure as he discussed the upcoming race and his recent outings in Super GT cars.
Season Context
Verstappen enters the Japanese Grand Prix—the third round of the 2026 season—under significant pressure. After a 6th-place finish in Australia and a retirement in China, he currently sits 8th in the standings, struggling to find pace in Red Bull’s new power unit era.
