The journalist whom Max fired wrote about his reaction.

      Sports journalist Giles Richards from London's The Guardian commented on the incident at Max Verstappen's press conference on Thursday, from which the driver expelled him...

      Giles Richards: "You know, I enjoy my job – I get paid to write about Formula 1 – a sport I've loved since 1976. I have nothing to complain about, but I was deeply disappointed when Max Verstappen decided to kick me out of his press conference on Thursday at the Japanese Grand Prix over a question asked at the end of last season.

      Our first face-to-face meeting since then took place in Suzuka, where it turned out that the Dutchman has an excellent memory. Seeing me, he smiled and said he wouldn't speak until I left. In a brief exchange, he told me to 'get lost.' I have never been asked to leave a press conference before. This is an extremely rare occurrence for a journalist in Formula 1; hardly anyone can recall more than one or two such cases.

      In over ten years, I have interviewed Verstappen about twelve times, and we have always communicated amicably. His outstanding talent resonated in my pieces, and the criticism was minimal and only when warranted.

      But one of my questions last year struck a nerve with him. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen collided with George Russell's car, for which he received a 10-second penalty, dropping him from fifth to tenth place and costing him nine points. At the end of the season, Verstappen missed the title by just two points.

      After the season finale in Abu Dhabi, I asked Max what he thought about that incident and whether he regretted it happening – this question simply had to be asked. Verstappen was offended. 'You forget everything else that happened in my season. You only remember Barcelona. I knew this would happen. And you’re even grinning stupidly.'

      I don't think I was grinning. I was certainly taken aback by the fury of his response, which might have caused a nervous smile, but it didn't seem funny to me; I wasn't trying to mock him.

      So, when at the press conference in Suzuka he said he wouldn't speak until I left, I asked if it was related to the question in Abu Dhabi. He answered affirmatively. Perhaps I nervously smirked again; who knows? I asked him to confirm if it was related to the Abu Dhabi question about Spain. He confirmed. 'Are you really that upset about this?' I asked, to which he replied: 'Get lost.'

      I left. Verstappen was smiling throughout the conversation. Perhaps he just enjoyed the situation? The day went on. There are far more serious problems in the world than a Formula 1 driver's dissatisfaction.

      Within two hours, someone tracked down my email address. 'The problem is you. You’re a toxic jerk responsible for all this British bias in Formula 1. You’re the worst,' the email read.

      Colleagues in the press center were unanimous. 'Shameless,' one of them said contemptuously about Verstappen's behavior. I'm fine. The most unpleasant part is writing about this in the first person. A journalist doesn't want to be the subject of gossip, even if it seems inevitable.

      Nevertheless, the incident itself and its aftermath are a disgrace. Especially due to the accusations of bias. Over the years, I've been accused of bias against Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and any other driver. But my main goal is to cover events as honestly and objectively as possible.

      I still admire Verstappen and hope that our relationship will improve in the future. Sometimes I have to ask difficult, uncomfortable questions, but that's part of my job."