Journalists call for FIA action after Max Verstappen…read more
Journalists have urged the FIA to step in after a heated incident involving Max Verstappen and a reporter at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The reigning F1 champion reportedly had a British journalist, Giles Richards, removed from a Red Bull media session on Thursday. The move stemmed from an earlier disagreement between the two, dating back to the final race of the 2025 season in Abu Dhabi.
During that previous exchange, Richards suggested Verstappen had narrowly lost the drivers’ title—by just two points—due to a controversial clash with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen strongly disagreed with that assessment, and it appears the tension lingered.
According to Richards, the situation escalated quickly in Japan. He explained that Verstappen refused to speak unless he left the session, confirming it was because of the earlier Abu Dhabi question. When Richards pressed him on whether he was still upset about it, Verstappen reportedly responded by telling him to leave.
The fallout didn’t stop there. Verstappen was later called in for discussions with Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, who is believed to have told the driver that his actions did not reflect the values of the team or its stakeholders.
Despite continuing his on-track duties at Suzuka, Verstappen remained at the center of controversy. The incident drew criticism from media organizations, including the Italian Union of Automotive Journalists, which voiced serious concern over what it described as a growing pattern of hostility toward journalists.
In a statement, the group condemned verbal confrontations and emphasized that such behavior threatens professional respect and press freedom. They specifically highlighted the treatment of Richards as an example of a troubling trend and warned that increasing tensions could lead to tighter restrictions on media access.
The organization ultimately called on the FIA to step in, urging collaboration between teams and media representatives to protect journalists’ ability to report freely and maintain fair working conditions.