The team will have a conversation with Verstappen following the 'get out' incident.
Giles Richards expressed that he was "deeply disappointed."
Max Verstappen refused to start his media session at Suzuka on Thursday until a British journalist exited the room, resulting in an unusual press conference standoff. The Red Bull driver specifically pointed out Giles Richards from The Guardian, stating to the group of reporters: "I’m not speaking until he leaves." After prolonged back-and-forth, Verstappen angrily told him, "Get out."
This incident appears to be related to an ongoing grievance from the 2025 season finale, when Richards questioned Verstappen about whether he regretted a controversial collision with George Russell in Barcelona, an event that was detrimental to his title chase. Verstappen had previously accused Richards of having a "stupid grin" after posing the question, and the issue resurfaced when they met again at Suzuka.
Richards recounted that Verstappen "stared, smiled, and insisted he would not speak until I left," before directly telling him to "get out" during a brief interaction. The journalist expressed being "deeply disappointed" by the situation, calling it highly unusual for Formula 1 media contexts, where such ejections are uncommon. He also remarked that their previous encounters over more than ten years had been "friendly and good-humored," offering criticism only when necessary. Ultimately, Richards exited the room, permitting the press conference to continue, while he added that "there are far more serious issues in the world than an F1 driver being upset with you for doing your job." Red Bull chose not to comment on the incident, though Germany’s Bild newspaper reports that the team plans to discuss the situation internally with Verstappen.
Other articles
Tensions rise regarding Aston-Honda concerns amidst challenges at Suzuka.
Formula 1 | Increasing confusion and tension seem to be emerging between Aston Martin and their engine partner Honda, as both parties presented differing opinions regarding reliability (…)
Russell dismisses the scrutiny from Mercedes as competitors respond.
Formula 1 | George Russell states that the increasing examination of Mercedes' dominance at the start of the season is just a part of how the sport operates, in light of new technical controversies in (…)
Sainz surprised by decline, Norris supports McLaren's comeback.
Formula 1 | Carlos Sainz expressed his surprise at the significant decline in performance of Williams at the beginning of the 2026 season. After moving to Williams from (…)
Perez dismisses 'rusty' assertion as Cadillac pair acclimate.
Formula 1 | Sergio Perez has responded to claims that he and his teammate Valtteri Bottas are out of form following their comeback to Formula 1 with Cadillac. The (…)
Hamilton: this is how racing ought to be.
Formula 1 | Lewis Hamilton expresses that he is finding more enjoyment in Formula 1 than ever with the contentious 2026 regulations, even amid continued criticism from Max (…)
Hulk taken aback by Wheatley's departure, teammate suggests possible reasons.
Formula 1 | Nico Hulkenberg expresses that he was entirely caught off guard by the abrupt exit of former team principal Jonathan Wheatley, discovering the news from an (…)
The team will have a conversation with Verstappen following the 'get out' incident.
Formula 1 | Max Verstappen declined to start his media session at Suzuka on Thursday until a British journalist exited the room, resulting in a remarkable press (…)