Journalists stood up for their colleague who was fired by Max.

      The incident that occurred on Thursday, when Max Verstappen expelled Guardian journalist Giles Richards from his press conference, could not go without consequences. The remark from the popular driver led to a torrent of insults and threats directed at the journalist on social media, even though he was simply doing his job. Moreover, the tension that arose is not positively affecting the image of Red Bull, which uses Formula 1 as a marketing platform. Richards has already expressed his point of view on the incident. Now, the Italian Association of Automotive Journalists has issued a statement expressing concern about the situation and the online harassment directed at Richards and others. "Verbal abuse and a hostile atmosphere directed against journalists and photographers are unacceptable and undermine the fundamental principles of professional respect and press freedom. Mutual respect is extremely important, but it should not limit the media's right to freely and independently cover events. We urge the FIA to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders – from media representatives to teams – to prevent further deterioration of working conditions and access to information. A free, respected, and protected press is not a secondary issue, but a fundamental basis for transparency and trust in all sports, including Formula 1," the statement said. According to available information, Red Bull is seeking to resolve this issue by negotiating with Verstappen and Richards to put an end to this incident before the Miami Grand Prix in May.