Verstappen refused to speak until reporter left Japanese GP press conference

March 29, 2026 Oliver Obel

A Formula 1 press conference at the Japanese Grand Prix took an unusual turn when Max Verstappen refused to speak unless a journalist left the room, according to a report by GiveMeSport, citing an account published in The Guardian.

The journalist involved, Guardian F1 correspondent Giles Richards, later described the incident in his column, saying Verstappen singled him out before the session began and indicated he would not participate while Richards remained present.

Richards linked the moment to a question he asked at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he raised Verstappen’s collision with George Russell in Barcelona. The crash resulted in a 10-second penalty that dropped the Dutch driver from fifth to 10th, costing him points in the championship battle.

Verstappen ultimately finished two points behind Lando Norris in the title race, with the Spain incident seen by some observers as a significant moment in the season.

Dispute resurfaces

In his account for The Guardian, Richards said Verstappen made his position clear as soon as he entered the room.

“When he saw me he stared, smiled, and declared he would not speak until I left.”

Richards wrote that Verstappen confirmed the issue stemmed from their exchange in Abu Dhabi, before repeating his demand that he leave.

Incidents of this kind are highly unusual in Formula 1, where drivers are typically required to participate in official FIA media sessions, though tensions between competitors and journalists are not uncommon following controversial on-track moments.

Aftermath and reaction

Richards said he complied with the request and left the press conference, later reflecting on the episode as an unusual but minor incident in the broader context of the sport.

“There are far more serious problems in the world than an F1 driver being cross with you,” he wrote.

He added that other journalists expressed surprise at what had happened, noting that it is rare for a reporter to be asked to leave an official press setting.

Richards also said he received abusive messages following the incident but downplayed their significance, adding that his main discomfort came from becoming part of the story himself.

The episode adds to Verstappen’s occasionally tense relationship with sections of the media, although direct confrontations in formal press conferences remain rare.

Sources: GiveMeSport, The Guardian